In a meeting held at the District Secretariat, the Kilinochchi Forest Department has been accused of doing interferences in the various development activities in Killinochchi District. District Government Agent Sundaram Arumainayagam reprimanded the district in charge of the Forest Department in this regard. There was a heated argument between the officials of the Forest Department and the District Secretary after the meeting with regard to the release of lands being occupied by the occupying Sri Lankan Armed Forces.The official of the Forest Department stated that all the state lands are belonging to the Forest Department and the permission should be taken from them and their procedures should be followed if any sort of activities are needed to be carried out in these lands.
As per the No 58 of 1992 Act, Transfer of Powers with regard to the lands was assigned to the Divisional Secretariat. It is accused that the Forest Department interferes the activities exercised as per the above mentioned legislation.
“As per the circular dated 5/2001, all the forest lands and the lands which may be used to forestation were given to the Forest Department. We acted as per this. As per the amendments in 2009 I the forest regulation, forest is defined clearly as in the manner to clarify that the forest may not be the place full of trees. Thus, we carry out our duties as per the rules and regulations”, the district in charge of the Forest Department added.
Meanwhile, parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran advised the District Government Agent to take legal actions in this regard.
