Opposition parliamentarian Harsha de Silva has criticized the government for the construction of a road through the Sinharaja forest without an environmental study.

Highways minister Johnston Fernando, during a parliamentary debate on Wednesday, denied the construction of a new road through the sensitive eco-system, that sparked outrage in the country.

“It was an existing road spanning 1.1 kilometres. There is no need for an (environmental) assessment to repair an existing road. We haven’t extended the length of the road,” Fernando argued.

However, De Silva, of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya pointed out that a gazette had been issued extending the area of the Sinharaja forest up to 36474.9 hectares with effect from November 11 last year.

“Therefore, nothing can be done without an environmental impact assessment,” he insisted.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana intervened and conceded that the road had been constructed when he served as the Chief Minister of the Southern Province.

“The chairman of the pradeshiya sabha in the area was imprisoned for a week since it was built without approval,” he said.