Sand mining racket in guise of chili cultivation harms Mahaweli River

Sand mining is taking place on a large scale in a natural delta of the Mahaweli river at Safi Nagar in Trincomalee in the guise of a 3,000-acre chili cultivation, alleges social scientist and environmentalist Ravindra Kariyawasam. According to Kariyawasam, who is also the national coordinator of the Centre for Environment and Nature Studies (CENS), this massive environmental destruction has […]

Now, new road to hotel poses danger to ecologically sensitive Roomassala

By Ifam Nizam (The Island News papaer) A 20-foot road is to be built shortly in a very environmentally sensitive location leading to a hotel which is also under construction, despite objections by officials, Environmental Scientist at the Centre for Environment Nature Studies (CENS), Dr Ravindra Kariywasam told The Island yesterday. Wildlife officials had objected to both the hotel and […]

Threatened biodiversity hotspot on the road to destruction

By Kamanthi wikaramasinghe Neluwa-Lankagama-Deniyaya Road construction via World Heritage Site nears completion sans EIA Environmentalists observe lack of consultation from technical experts SL Army says construction work done under the supervision of RDA Subject minister says EIA will be ready in three weeks The Neluwa-Lankagama-Deniyaya Road that is being built via the Sinharaja Forest Reserve – a UNESCO World Heritage […]

CENS and Green community of pollonaruwa were held a protest

CENS and Green community of pollonaruwa were held a protest in pollonnaruwa city against construction of Yakkure roada 02.12.2020. Villages and Environmentalist requested not to build any road trough forest. The Yakkaure is an environment sensitive area. But government just try to construct a road for improve tourism. This plan will destroy the bio diversity and animal a habitats of […]

3 acres of forest destroyed daily in the last 2 months!

Three acres of forest land has been cleared each day during the previous two months, National Coordinator for Centre for Environmental and Nature Studies (CENS) – Ravindra Kariyawasam says. Mr. Kariyawasam further warns that if the president does not take measures to put a stop to this massive forest destruction, the forest cover of the country could be deeply impacted. Speaking on the […]

Fighting Deforestation in Sri Lanka

By Savithri Sellapperumage Courtesy The Diplomat Can Sri Lanka live up to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s environmental commitments?   The focus on Sri Lanka’s deforestation and the conservation of forests this year can be traced back to widespread discussions about deforestation in Wilpattu  National Park back in 2019. Deforestation in Wanathawillu, Anawilundawa and Sinharaja has been the recent focus of discussion. However, […]

Wanathawilluwa forest clearance: Whodunit?

  NWPEA to file legal action Environmentalists claim that officials have turned a blind eye Nobody arrested yet Enough legal provisions in place to sue the responsible party Days after the Anawilundawa Ramsar Wetland, situated in Puttalam District, made headlines over an illegal clearance, nearly 100 acres of forest area was reportedly destroyed in Kuratiyamohotte area in Eluwankulama, Wanathawilluwa, also […]