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Sigiriya in danger as ‘development’ makes inroads
View(s):Alleged land grab by powerful persons in the guise of helping poor farmers
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi
Unique Sigiriya, the World Heritage Site and its environs, is under threat, with insidious moves to re-define this protected ‘sanctuary’ in the name of development, environmentalists charged.
With pressure being brought to bear on wildlife officials, moves are underway, in the guise of helping “poor farmers,” for a land-grab in the Sigiriya sanctuary by influential people, the Sunday Times learns.
A survey of parts of the sanctuary is now being carried out by a joint team from the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) and the Survey Department, it is understood while the areas which have been identified for de-gazetting are learnt to be Pidurangala, Polaththewa, Ahelagala, Thalkote and Ilukwela among others.
“An environmental assessment impact is mandatory before a sanctuary is de-gazetted or its boundaries are re-defined. This is clearly required under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (FPPO),” reiterated environmental lawyer, Jagath Gunawardena, when contacted by the Sunday Times. However, the current moves to change the boundaries of this valuable sanctuary seem to be going ahead without heeding any such safeguards.
Re-defining the Sigiriya sanctuary’s boundaries will not only have a major impact on biological diversity and the big elephant population here but also be instrumental in destroying the yet unexplored but very valuable archaeological sites within it, he said.Land and divisional secretariat officials seem to be colluding to rush the re-defining of the sanctuary’s boundaries, perturbed sources alleged, stressing that due consideration of the repercussions of such a serious decision has not been made.
The Sunday Times understands that a hurried meeting and field visit to the area were made end-November but divisional secretariat officials when contacted refused to comment, brusquely asking that wildlife officials be contacted.
The Sigiriya sanctuary comprising 5,099.20 hectares (12,600 acres) was declared in 1990 as it is a valuable wildlife habitat and a catchment area as well as an important archaeological site. The forest cover includes large and valuable trees such as kaluwara.
The sanctuary falls within the Matale district and, therefore, under the Dambulla Divisional Secretariat, with only one Grama Niladhari area being in the Polonnaruwa district.
While many large herds of wild elephants roam the sanctuary it is also home to the leopard, bear and other wildlife including nearly 150 varieties of birds. Among the birds that can be spotted in the area are very rare species such as the Shaheen falcon and the Orange-headed ground thrush.
“In the name of helping the humble farmer, the plan is for powerful people with vested interests to clear large tracts of jungle,” pointed out an environmentalist, explaining that within the Sigiriya sanctuary are both state land and land owned by villagers who have restricted use of the land.
Many issues arise if the sanctuary’s boundaries are re-defined, for there may have been encroachments and those may get legalised while the villagers may sell off their land for powerful people to “develop” it and in the process destroy the land.
Who cares about the environment and the repercussions of its destruction, asked another environmentalist, lamenting that the effects of such short-term decisions are apparent even now in Sri Lanka – rains gone awry and severe droughts.
When people encroach into wild elephant territory, there will be a massive escalation of the human-elephant conflict, another source pointed out.
Attempts to contact officials of the Department of Wildlife Conservation were futile.
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