The Gampaha Magistrate’s Courts yesterday ordered to send notice to the Gampaha Forest Officer to appear before Court on July 21
to testify regarding an alleged incident of an endangered Pandu Karanda tree being illegally felled and buried late at night.
Citing an earlier B report submitted to the Court by the Gampaha Forest Office, Attorney Lakdinu Dheerasekera representing Udasgiriye Samitha Thera, the President of the Artefacts Preservation Organization, filing a motion told court that the Pandu Karanda tree has been named as an endangered plant species in the Red Data Book.
The attorney said that this is a rare tree and that Pandu Karanda tree, which was located near the Central Expressway, was secretly removed and buried late at night and a Cabinet Minister had declared that the tree was cut and removed according to the decision of the Cabinet.
The lawyer said that the Gampaha Forest Office has reported facts to court through a B report, that investigations are being conducted as to who removed the tree and the Court has even issued an order accordingly.
He requested Court to issue an order to arrest those responsible for this illegal act and seize the equipment used for the removal of the tree.
The Magistrate considered the request and ordered to send a notice to the Gampaha Site Forest Officer to appear before Court. The case is to be taken up again in courts on July 21.
Tony Karunanayake and Veyangoda Special Corr.