No probe on forest officer
The Government will not conduct any investigations against the Forest Department Officer who refused to break the law and release conservation land, Minister of Environment and Wildlife Resources S.M. Chandrasena told The Sunday Morning.
“There are no cases or investigations against the Forest Department official. We are with her and support her stance,” Minister Chandrasena said. However, with regard to whether the plans to build a playground in the protected land would go ahead, the Minister said that it was still being deliberated.
“We have to look into the matter and see what to do at this point. We haven’t taken a decision yet,” he said. Furthermore, he said that he had not granted permission to anyone to release that particular bit of conservation land.
“I have only been in office for a few months and I have given no such order to release that land,” he said.
Meanwhile, when The Sunday Morning questioned State Minister of Environment and Wildlife Resources Sanath Nishantha Perera, who had the infamous argument with the with Forest Department official, about a possible investigation against her, the State Minister said he was unaware. “I’m not aware of any such investigation. I do not know if there is a pending investigation or not,” Perera said.
(Source: The Morning – By Skandha Gunasekara)

Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- Shooting and assault on Thusitha Halloluwa in Narahenpita May 17, 2025
- CEB proposes 18.3% electricity tariff hike from June 2025 May 17, 2025
- Sajith leads opposition talks to seize local council control May 17, 2025
- Sri Lanka train services hit by one-day strike over promotion demands May 17, 2025
- Court issues arrest warrant for Mahindananda Aluthgamage May 16, 2025
Better there should not be any investigation against this gutty officer MS Devani Jayathilake. She was only doing her job. The decision is between a playground and a delicate environmental issue. If you don’t have a play ground right at that spot is anyone going to die? Or the government is trying to win some votes here by allowing to r*ape mother nature?
I wonder why President Gota is silent here?
He insisted to plant trees during independence and in other incidents to save the mangrove.
Is he biased against this?
Working towards the election?