Akaragama soil mining: Permit holder vows to appeal ban
Two permits issued for soil mining at the controversial soil excavation site in Akaragama, Divulapitiya has been cancelled, Acting Director General of Geological Surveys and Mines Bureau, D Sajjana De Silva said. But, he said the permit holders can appeal within 14 days from the date of cancellation and the final decision will be taken by the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment.
The controversy over the site developed after Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake visited the location and raised the issue over the misuse of permits. He also contacted the Divisional Secretary of the area and reprimanded her for not taking action.
Later the members of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association protested over allegations that Ramanayake had threatened the officer.
Soon after, permits were suspended by the GSMB. Later, investigation reports revealed that the two permit owners had violated regulations, De Silva explained. One of the license holders, H. S. A. D. Thusitha Nayanapriya said he will file an appeal on Monday.
Source-12/02/2017,The Sunday Times, See more at -http://www.sundaytimes.lk/170212/news/akaragama-soil-mining-permit-holder-vows-to-appeal-ban-228172.html
Govt. will not stop providing elephants for Peraheras: PM
The government will not stop providing elephants for Peraheras , Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.
Speaking during the final day’s opening of the annual Nawam Perahera of the Hunupitiya Gangararama Temple last evening, the Premier said President Maithirpala Sirisena and other relevant parties have discussed and decided on steps that should be taken to resolve the issues.
“Anyway the government will not stop providing elephants to Peraheras and has decided on safeguarding species which is becoming extinct speedily. Elephants are becoming extinct with the deforestation and urbanization,” he said
“There are many other issues such as illegal buying and selling of elephants,” he added. Further he said the government intended to expand the Pinnawala Elephant orphanage. “The government will soon reveal more details about steps it intends taking in resolving issues pertaining to illegal rearing of elephants and providing animals for Peraheras”, the Prime Minister further said.
The Prime Minister lauded the Chief Incumbent of Gangaramaya Temple Ven. Galboda Gnanissara Thera for organizing the Perahera which he said is a daunting task given the situation in the society. “It is a difficult task to find traditional dancers and others for the Perahera but the Venerable Thera had used his skills to find everything that is needed for the event,” he said.
Venerable Kirinde Assaji Thera announced that the Chief Incumbent of Gangaramaya will soon launch a programme to bring down a variety of paddy that can be cultivated with minimum amount of water to face the ongoing drought. (Yohan Perera)
Source-10/02/2017,Dailymirror,See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Govt-will-not-stop-providing-elephants-for-Peraheras-PM-123656.html#sthash.uSyzxaeY.dpuf
GSMB responsible for Gampaha excavation fiasco: President
While claiming that the Geological Surveys and Mines Bureau (GSMB) should be held responsible at the controversial earth removing in Gampaha, President Maithripala Sirisena said today that the engineer and the other officials who authorised the particular licence should be interdicted, pending an inquiry.
Attending an opening of the ‘Haritha Sihina’ educational and environmental exhibition held in Kurunegala, the President said that 60,000 cubes of earth had been removed from the particular place and transported to fill the Muthurajawela marshland.
“No one has noticed where the soil was being transported. Six months earlier State intelligence reported me that some villagers blaming me,” he said. He said that officials had not supervised if the permit holder was operating according the permit.
He said that it was GSMB officials under his purview had made the first mistake.“Over 20- years soil mining was done at the same place with the support of the State institution,” he said. (Thilanka Kanakarathna) –
Source-Dailymirror,12/02/2017,See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/GSMB-responsible-for-Gampaha-excavation-fiasco-President-123690.html#sthash.2SK86R0N.dpuf
Drought: Be prepared, warns WFP
Sri Lanka should be prepared to face challenges ahead, especially when it comes to food security, which would be brought on by the drought, World Food Program (WFP) Executive Director Ertharin Cousin said over the weekend.
According to the WFP, which quoted a research carried out by several agencies including the Irrigation Department and the Department of Census and Statics, Sri Lanka has currently felt only 50 percent of the effect of the prevailing drought.
“You have to get your resources in place if you are to face challenges which are ahead of you in the wake of the drought. Without resources you cannot ensure food security,” Ms. Cousin told journalists during her visit to Hambegamuwa in the Moneragala District. She also stressed for a joint effort of all stakeholders to ensure success. “I met Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Davos earlier this year and he asked for WFP support to face the drought his country was going to face and I told him that we would support but the role of the Government and others would be important as one agency alone could not fulfill the task,” she said. She said she was pleased to see the work done in Sri Lanka, especially by the WFP.
The WFP has funded Rs. 6 million to put up a 15 km electricity fence and to grow thorny bushes such as Hana, Bougainvillea and lime to prevent elephants from destroying the lives and crops in Hambegamuwa.
There is a shortage of water for cultivation as a result of the focus on drinking water. The storage of water has declined in several districts. It has been revealed that water storage in the Anuradhapura District has declined to 27 percent of the full capacity, while it is 28 percent in Moneragala, 28 percent in Trincomalee, and 57 percent in Polonnaruwa, reports said.(Yohan Perera) –
Source-13/02/2017,Dailymirror.Seemoreat: http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Drought-Be-prepared-warns-WFP-123702.html#sthash.MHsRJ3IJ.dpuf
