The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) urged the Government to stop massive forest destruction for the proposed Agriculture and Livestock Development Project in Pollebadda-Rambakan Oya in the Maha Oya area.

In a letter of demand sent to the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) Director General, the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka (MASL), the Ministry of Environment, and other relevant parties, the CEJ stated that it had learnt that the CEA Director General, under the reference no. 08/EIA/AGR/01/2020 and dated 15 October 2020, has provided guidelines to the MASL Director General for the proposed project without adhering to the provisions of the National Environmental Act.

“Around 5,828 acres (2,359 ha) are to be cultivated maize under this project, and land parts per around 500 ha are to be divided and handed over among few people (sic),” according to CEJ Executive Director Hemantha Withanage.

“We have learned that around 500 ha has already been cleared and the CEA has issued the aforementioned letter saying if the development activities within the land areas belong to the Mahaweli Authority, there is no such need to consider those for issuing an EIA (environmental impact assessment) approval,” it is stated.

Instead of taking actions against clearing the forest without an EIA, the CEA issuing a set of guidelines is contrary to the National Environmental Act No.47 of 1980, as amended.

If the proposed development activities are utilising a forest cover exceeding 1 ha for non-forest uses, or are clearing a forest cover more than 50 ha, an EIA process must be followed.

The CEA has provided Term of Reference (TOR) to the MASL along with the said letter to submit only an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE).

Moreover, the CEJ believes that the IEE is not adequate and an EIA must be done before starting the project, it stated.