An environmenal organisation collective is to launch a massive protest on September 18 in front of the company head office in Maharagama, urging responsible authorities to take necessary action against the illegal palm oil cultivation in several districts by a blue chip company of Sri Lanka, the Sunday Observer learns.
Convener of the Rain forest Protection Society, Jayantha Wijesinghe, said that a group of environmental organisations will launch this protest with a massive public attendance. “Residents in Mathugama, Kegalle and Baddegama who are severely affected by the palm oil cultivation will participate in the demonstration. In fact, we want customers of this company to know this truth. This company is a terrorist organisation when considering their destruction of the environment” Wijesinghe said. The Economic Commission appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena issued a recommendation in September last year, advising to stop palm cultivation in the future. This decision was presented to the Cabinet along with the recommendations of the Ministry of Environment and the Cabinet of Ministers also approved it.
“They do not comply with the law of the country and Cabinet decisions.People should understand the damage they have done to the environment,” Wijesinghe said.
Despite several attempts to contact him, Minister of Plantation Industries Navin Dissanayake was not available for comment.