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Multinational company to get lands from Wedithalathivu Nature Reserve

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The National Aquaculture Development Authority of Sri Lanka is planning to hand over a large area of Wedithalathivu Nature Reserve, the largest mangrove wetland in the country, in Mannar to a multinational company, environmentalists alleged.

Declared a nature reserve in 2016, this wetland covers an area of 29,180 hectares.

Samantha Gunasekara, the former head of the Customs Biodiversity Unit and former Customs Director, said that there is a plan to cancel the Gazette Notification 1956/13 issued in 2016 declaring Wedithalathivu as a nature reserve and use it for aquaculture.

Mr.Gunasekara expressed these views at the press conference held the day before yesterday (06) by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society at the BMICH, Colombo.

He said the National Aquaculture Development Authority of Sri Lanka brought a proposal in 2017 as well to cancel this gazette but an Advisory Committee suggested in 2019 that the gazette should not be cancelled.

Reptile expert Mendis Wickramasinghe said that six new snake species and two rare snake species live in this ecosystem.

Mr. Wickramasinghe said that a reptile species which was discovered by Zoologist P. E. P.Deraniyala in 1941 was found again from this natural ecosystem, and that there are several unidentified animal species in this ecosystem.

He said that a small species of python, which had not been found from other parts of the country, was also reported from this area.

Environmentalist Susantha Uadgedara said that a seagrass ecosystem is spread in the Wedithalathivu Nature Reserve. He said that 15 of the world’s 73 sea grass species are reported from Sri Lanka, and 10 of them are found in Wedithalathivu.

He said sea pigs, one of the seriously endangered species in the country, that feed on seagrass live in this Nature Reserve.

He said that seagrass is the third most important ecosystem in the world, and sea grass absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. He said one hectare of sea grass provides services worth $34,000 per year.

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A few showers expected today

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A few showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in the Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts today (July 01), the Department of Meteorology.

Fairly strong winds of about 30-40kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the central hills and in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in the Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.

The general public has been requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

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Fuel prices upped

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The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has announced a revision of fuel prices, effective from midnight today (June 30).

The price of Petrol 92 Octane has been increased by Rs. 12 to Rs. 305 per litre, while the price of Kerosene has been increased by Rs. 07 to Rs. 185 per litre. The price of Auto Diesel has also been increased by Rs. 15, bringing it to Rs. 289 per litre.

However, the prices of Petrol 95 Octane and Super Diesel remain unchanged, according to Ceypetco.

The new fuel prices are as follows:

• Petrol Octane 92 – Rs. 305 (increased by Rs. 12)
• Auto Diesel – Rs. 289 (increased by Rs. 15)
• Kerosene – Rs. 185 (increased by Rs. 7)
• Petrol Octane 95 – Rs. 341 (not revised)
• Super Diesel – Rs. 325 (not revised)

Meanwhile, Lanka IOC has also revised retail fuel prices to match Ceypetco prices.

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Ex-minister Gamini Lokuge passes away

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Former Minister and veteran politician Gamini Lokuge has passed away today (June 30) at the age of 82.

Commencing his political career in 1960 as a member of the United National Party, his first successful national-level campaign came in 1983, when he was elected by a clear majority to represent the Kesbewa District.

He served as Minister of Tourism during the UNP-led governments in 1989 and 2002. In 2006, following personal disagreements with then UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, he crossed over to the government of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

In January 2007, Lokuge was appointed Minister of Sports and Public Recreation. He was re-elected to Parliament in both 2010 and 2015.

On 27 November 2019, he was appointed State Minister for Urban Development, and on 12 August 2020, he assumed duties as the Cabinet Minister of Transport.

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