Dambana indigenous people’s leader Vishwa Keerthi Wanaspathi Uruwarigaya Vannile Aththo said that a deforestation epidemic is spreading all over the country now more than the corona epidemic.
Further expressing his views, the Vannile Aththo said, “People in the country had great faith in this government despite there was a corona epidemic. About 7 to 8 vehicles come to my house every day. Everyone who comes asks me, Leader, what is happening to the country. They are talking about the devastation that is happening all over the country these days. I can see from their stories that the great trust in the country’s rulers has been shattered, and a great deal of displeasure has arisen.
Every day there are reports, from all over the country, that a large part of a jungle somewhere has been destroyed and cleared. Alternatively, the 100 or 200-year-old large trees have been cut down. When this government was elected, the people of the country had great faith that only the President would rebuild the country. It is with that belief that the people voted and elected him.
Rambakanmaya forest was destroyed recently. The country has seen large scale sand mining in rivers and streams and creating havoc in the country. I believe the destruction of the environment in the country is a black mark to the President.
Recently a protest was started in Wasapugala village. At present, they have been protesting for more than 58 days, demanding solutions. The protesters do not ask for land or forests. There is justice in their demands as well. Today, there is an increase in human suffering around the country from wild elephants. If you come to Mahiyangana and look at the Mahaweli river, you would see 15 to 20 elephants at any given time. There are reasons for wild elephants to visit villages like this. The main reason for this is the human encroachment on the habitats of those animals. When these things happen, a big disaster happens.
In 1983 when Maduru Oya was named as a sanctuary, the lands of the surrounding villages were taken to the Mahaweli and the jungle area in the middle was turned into a sanctuary. When these sanctuaries were converted, the surrounding lands were turned into lakes and paddy fields. The wildlife, including wild elephants, lost their habitat. It was only then that the animals began to move into villages. Every government should think about the people of the country. We start various projects and launch development processes to make people live. Nevertheless, wild animals, including wild elephants living in the jungle, which do not understand anything, were not taken care of during that development processes.
Recently, there was talk that the tigers were taking refuge in the mountain tea plantations. There was also a story that tigers came into the villages and started hunting dogs. I don’t think the Tigers would have needed to go hunting for dogs if they had their homeland to survive. There was plenty of room for those tigers to hunt wild beasts and live in the jungle. Even the third generation in my village has not yet received deeds or licenses from the government. However, those who have come recently to the area have received deeds but those who have traditionally lived in these villages have not.”
