Vandalism of Sinharaja Forest in Sri Lanka - A World Heritage Site

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Vandalism of Sinharaja Forest in Sri Lanka a World Heritage Site

The Sinharaja Forest in Sri Lanka is a National Heritage wilderness area declared by the National Heritage Wilderness Areas Act No: 3 of 1988 and was designated a World Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and a World Heritage Site in 1988. Sinharaja is one of the primary, pristine forest reserves in the world and a study conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2010 had ranked Sri Lanka in the fourth spot where the destruction of primary forests is concerned.

A proposed road 8 km long is to be constructed to run through Ensalwatte and Handapan Ella(Water Fall) where endemic fauna and flora are in abundance and also varieties of endemic amphibians are found. According to the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance, no construction should be allowed within 100 meters from the Sinharaja Reserve boundary line. However, this road will be constructed on the boundary line, a complete violation of the law. The purpose of the proposed road is to link Sabaragamuwa Province to the Southern Province, however, there are two roads already in operation for very long time through Rakwana in the East and Kalawana in the West, implying the proposal is targeting a few voters living in villages in the wilderness, for political gains.

If this proposed plan goes ahead ignoring the adverse environment aspects, most of the endemic species, fauna and flora will be extinct in the very near future. Among the amphibians that are found in Handapan Ella five are endemic to Sri Lanka. They are Philautus simba,Philautus papillosus, Polypedates fastigo, Philautus lunatus and Philautus procax. Sinharaja forest is rich in bio diversity, and adjoining forests too are rich in bio diversity. Apart from the amphibians, the forest community here too consists of endemic trees and plants. Apparently the vehicular road kill will be a primary cause for the extinction of forest population, which has survived for millenniums, once the road is constructed.

Please read the following articles published in journals pertaining to the subject.

http://sundaytimes.lk/110731/News/nws_17.html.

http://www.lankaindependent.com/2011/08/sinharaja-forest-reserve-desecrated-rajapakse-family-accused-of-destroying-national-heritage-for-personal-benefit/

So please sign this petition to put an end to this horrendous, barbaric act of Environmental Terrorism and become a guardian of this World Heritage treasure the Sinharaja Forest.

682 Signatures

  • cecil f
    • Comments
    • В
  • Adrian O
  • Adrian O
  • Dinanga
  • Dinanga
  • Rohana A
    • Comments
    • This is very important to protect from the hooligans and traitors of Sri Lanka
  • Sriyani A
    • Comments
    • Good job, keep it up
  • sriyani a
  • Rohana A
    • Comments
    • This is very important to protect from the hooligans and traitors of Sri Lanka
  • Sriyani A
    • Comments
    • Good job, keep it up
  • sriyani a
  • Manjuka S
  • Manjuka S
  • Neil L
  • Neil L
  • Chathurika S
  • Chathurika S
  • Kelly H
  • Kelly H
  • Semasinghe A
    • Comments
    • Do not destroy our heritage for personnal benefit
  • Semasinghe A
    • Comments
    • Do not destroy our heritage for personnal benefit
  • thoshini
  • thoshini
  • Vinusha K
    • Comments
    • good luck!
  • Vinusha K
    • Comments
    • good luck!
  • C.P.Jayasinghe
  • C.P.Jayasinghe
  • DR IMRC I
    • Comments
    • The armed forces liberated the land of the Sinhalese from Tamil terrorists bu has failed to protect the great Sri Lankan heritage from the dangerous, ignorant power hungry Rajapakse clan who with unbridled greed is paving the way for the fall of Sri Lanka and the Sinhalese
  • DR IMRC I
    • Comments
    • The armed forces liberated the land of the Sinhalese from Tamil terrorists bu has failed to protect the great Sri Lankan heritage from the dangerous, ignorant power hungry Rajapakse clan who with unbridled greed is paving the way for the fall of Sri Lanka and the Sinhalese
  • Bandula R
    • Comments
    • Couldn't it be possible to modify present plans to move the road further away?
  • Bandula R
    • Comments
    • Couldn't it be possible to modify present plans to move the road further away?
  • Edmond P
  • Edmond P
  • N. L. P
  • N. L. P
  • prasad J
    • Comments
    • В
  • prasad J
    • Comments
    • В
  • Nicholas D
    • Comments
    • I fully endorse the views expressed to preserve this prehistoric forest in pristine condition for many genrations to come as a World heritage Sight for the whole world to enjoy.
  • Nicholas D
    • Comments
    • I fully endorse the views expressed to preserve this prehistoric forest in pristine condition for many genrations to come as a World heritage Sight for the whole world to enjoy.
  • Amanda S
    • Comments
    • The natural environment needs protection.
  • Amanda S
    • Comments
    • The natural environment needs protection.
  • Shashini
  • Shashini
  • Channa M
  • Channa M
  • Tekla Priyangani W
  • Tekla Priyangani W
  • kapuge s
  • kapuge s
  • Tekla P W