By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): Land grabbing across Sri Lanka has exploded — villagers are evicted from their homes and land, as farms and forests are taken for tea, rubber, palm oil and banana plantations, and the development of tourist infrastructure such as all-inclusive hotels for mass tourism, all of which comes with huge environmental impacts.

These land grabs are a continuation of colonial practices, and they are necessitated by an export-oriented agricultural model. Global South countries are trapped in a vicious cycle.

High levels of foreign debt, mean they must produce vast amounts of ‘cash crops’ for export to international markets as this is the only way they can earn the foreign currency needed to service their loans.

Foreign and local companies are to be given state lands for mega agriculture projects with tax concessions in misconceived deals involving forest lands, especially forest reserves, official documents divulged.

The government is planning to hand over thousands of acres of forest lands to several local and foreign companies under a new cabinet decision misinterpreting its contents with the connivance of top officials. Several environmentalists and local community activists complained.

According to the circular, any allocation of forest lands for development activities requires the approval of a special review board which has not been followed since the circular is invalidated.

Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal submitted by the ministry of wildlife and forest resources conservation on January 23, 2023 to resolve problems pertaining to forests coming under the purview of forest conservation department and wild life conservation department.

According to the cabinet approval, problems of villagers residing and cultivating land allotments in reserve forests for a long period will be solved subject to stipulated conditions.

Under the first phase of this initiative land allotments in Jaffna, Vavuniya, Mulaithivu Kilinochchi, Mannar, Trincomalee, Ampara, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Monaragala Districts are to be released to present occupants.

These community settlements were initiated by the then government after the end of North East war under its resettlement programme for displaced villagers.

Further the security forces have forcibly taken over forest lands in those areas to implement the national physical plan.

The ministry of wildlife and forest resources conservation making use of this situation is now releasing forest reserve lands for mega agri development projects of foreign and local companies, several leading environmentalists said. 

150 acres in Madu road Jaffna forest which was declared as a forest reserve on October10 2012 under the gazette notification No 1779/15 had been released for development activities by the ministry by issuing gazette notification No 2344 /16.

In addition 29000 acres of land in Mulaithivu forest reserve, 25,000 acres in Wattegama – Kebiliththa forest reserve in the Monaragala District and over 100 acres in Rajawake forest are to be released by the ministry to private investors.

Thailand based Sutech Engineering company has invested US$ 400 million for its subsidiary  Sutech Sugar Industries Pvt Ltd to implement green field sugar development project taking over 600 acres forest land for sugar factory in the Vavuniya District  belonging to forest conservation department with the approval of the cabinet on June 26 2023.   

This company has given 7000 acres of forest land in the area for sugar cultivation under the same cabinet approval. 

Plans are under way to hand over 62,500 forest land for the Bibila sugar cultivation project in Monaragala, Badulla and Ampara Districts to IMS Holdings Pvt Ltd in accordance with the cabinet approval of February14, 2017.  

Colombo (LNW): Following a significant increase in fever cases within Matara Prison, an additional eight inmates have been admitted to Matara Hospital for medical care.

The total number of inmates currently undergoing treatment at the hospital has reached 16, Prisons spokesman Gamini Dissanayake disclosed.

Unfortunately, one inmate receiving treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Matara Hospital succumbed to the fever on Friday night.

The surge in fever cases has raised concerns about the health and well-being of inmates within the prison. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures to provide medical attention to affected individuals.

The spokesperson noted that two of the 16 inmates receiving treatment at the hospital are currently in the ICU, indicating the severity of the health issues faced by some of the prisoners.

The incident underscores the importance of implementing preventive measures within prison facilities to mitigate the risk of contagious diseases and ensure the health and safety of inmates.

Authorities are likely to conduct thorough investigations to identify the cause of the fever outbreak and take appropriate steps to contain and manage the situation.

The well-being of inmates, along with public health considerations, will remain a top priority for prison authorities and healthcare professionals working to address the health challenges faced by the incarcerated population.

Colombo (LNW): The ongoing special operation, Operation ‘Yukthiya’, aimed at combating narcotics distribution and organised crimes, will undergo a temporary suspension during the upcoming holidays.

Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa announced that the island-wide operation will be briefly halted on December 24, 25, and 26.

This decision is driven by the need to deploy police officers to specific duties on Christmas Day (Dec. 25) and Poya Day (Dec. 26).

Thalduwa clarified that the temporary suspension is not an end to the special operation and assured that it will resume after the holiday period.

1. Wind power project to be initiated by India’s Adani Group misses initial deadline of end-Dec’23 for the anticipated launch: delays have reportedly arisen due to the inability of Sri Lanka & India to finalise crucial agreements on the project’s initial steps.
   
2. Private Bus Owners’ Assn Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne demands an increase in bus fares in the face of the impending VAT rise; says VAT is applicable to spare parts, lubricants & fuel.
   
3. Bangladesh gifts a stock of 24 essential drugs valued at USD 1 mn, covering 3 months SL’s requirements of such drugs: B’desh High Commissioner in SL Tareq Islam hands over the gift to Minister of Health Ramesh Pathirana.
   
4. Bar Assn President Kaushalya Nawaratne raises concerns regarding the manner in which the “Yukthiya” (Justice) programme is carried out: says the manner in which the programme is currently operating would result in immediate seizures of property, and suspects being taken into custody: however, people support for the much-needed crackdown on narcotics & organized crime, reportedly increasing.
   
5. Police SSP Nihal Thalduwa says the island-wide operation “Yukthiya” to crack down on narcotics distribution & organized crime, would be temporarily halted on Dec 24, 25 & 26, as Police officers have to be deployed to other specific duties on Christmas Day (25) and Poya Day (26).
   
6. Former NPP MP Dr Nalinda Jayatissa claims a few officials of the Health Ministry could not have struck a deal of USD 2.5mn when importing substandard Immunoglobulin injections without any involvement of the subject Minister: reiterates former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella must be interrogated regarding the incident.
   
7. Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella says he was the first Complainant regarding the import of substandard Immunoglobulin injections and that there was no need to record another statement from him: asserts his initial statement included all details.
   
8. With a 3% increase in VAT for coal starting from 1st Jan’23, Electricity Board is due to pay an additional Rs.70mn per shipment of coal as VAT to the Govt, according to statistics of the Lanka Coal Company.
   
9. War-torn Israel to urgently fill 30,000 vacancies in its construction industry, after deporting thousands of Palestinian workers following the war that commenced on 7th Oct’23: Israel Builders’ Assn representatives due in SL next week to screen applicants for plastering, ceramic tiling, building work & iron bending jobs.
   
10. Lanka Hotels & Residencies Chairman Gamini Gunaratne announces that the much-anticipated Sheraton Colombo Hotel will be opened on 30th Dec’23: says LHR invested nearly USD 100mn in the 320-room Hotel located in Colombo 3, complete with a Presidential Suite & other luxury suites, along with 4 restaurants: also says LHR has a 30-year management contract with Marriott International, to manage the property.

Colombo (LNW): During a recent event, Irrigation Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi emphasised the crucial role of officials in preventing environmental and wildlife damage.

She highlighted the threat of floods in Galle, Matara, and Ratnapura, adversely affecting the lives of residents during the rainy season.

To address the flood issue in Galle and Matara, Wanniarachchi recommended a focused approach to the Ging-Nilwala flood control project.

Instructing officials to prioritise these projects, she emphasised their swift implementation in 2024.

Additionally, the Minister directed officials to concentrate on the Kitulwela Irrigation Project for resolving water issues in Batticaloa and the Kumbukkan Oya Reservoir Project for addressing water concerns in Moneragala in the coming year.

With an allocated budget of Rs.30 billion to the Irrigation Department, she urged officials to promptly prepare plans, identifying project priorities for implementation in the upcoming year.

Colombo (LNW): The State Ministry of Power and Energy has issued a directive to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO), Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC), and Sinopec, emphasising the importance of ensuring an uninterrupted fuel supply during the upcoming festive season.

The directive outlines the requirement for these fuel providers to maintain a minimum of 50 per cent fuel stocks at all their stations at all times.

This strategic instruction aims to prevent fuel shortages, ensuring that consumers have consistent access to fuel during the festive period and minimising disruptions in transportation and daily activities.

Colombo (LNW): In commemoration of the festive occasion of Christmas and Poya Day, it has been announced that all liquor sales outlets and wine shops located throughout the island will be temporarily closed on December 25th and 26th, encompassing the days of Monday and Tuesday.