After Robert Brownrig, a master plan to destroy Uva Wellassa is in operation. 62,500 acres in Moneragala and Badulla districts to IMS Holding and Gazelle Ventures for sugarcane cultivation, 7000 acres to Pelwatta Sugar Company for sugarcane cultivation, 50,000 acres to companies for maize cultivation, 5000 acres for construction of Chinese factories and 3000 acres It has been given to Athimale Plantation Company for sugarcane cultivation. A large area of this is home to farmers’ farms and wildlife, including elephants. Due to this the people of Uva Wellassa will have to face a severe tragedy in the future.
Bibile – Akiriyankumbura 62,500 acre sugarcane cultivation project is again preparing to handover the Uva Fall Lands and Farmers’ Farms to IMS Holdings (Pvt) Ltd and Singapore Gazelle Ventures (Pvt) Ltd.
Construction work has commenced on 162 farming families clearing 562 acres of land.
This project is being carried out in violation of the Forest Conservation Ordinance, the National Environment Act and the Archaeological Ordinance.
These areas, which are unique biodiversity hot pots in Sri Lanka, have an environment of grasses such as Aralu, Bulu, Nelli, Gammalu, herbs of Ayurvedic value and dewdrops. These areas, known as savannah grasslands or the Uva Falls, are home to a number of ecologically valuable species such as shrubs, lizards, amphibians, and other species of butterflies, such as the ball turtle, the leafhopper, and the cuckoo.
The Pelwatta Sugar Company has resumed looting the chena plantations of farmers in Wellawaya, Vandama, Tamiliya, Maha Aragama and Aluthwela areas in the Moneragala District and the water catchment forests in the Hadapanagala Lake.
As a result of the allocation of lands to multinational companies for these projects, the watershed areas will be depleted.
The main ones are drying up of water sources, elephant poaching due to destruction of wildlife habitats, loss of livelihoods of farmers due to loss of farmers’ lands, loss of livelihoods of people engaged in dairy farming and deactivation of dairy products. .
Achala Piyumantha
Human Rights First Aid Center Moneragala.