Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera has instructed to appoint three special teams to investigate the destruction of forest lands in the Hanthana, Kirinda and Wanathawilluwa areas.
The Minister had issued the instruction to the Central Environmental Authority yesterday (13).
Minister Amaraweera had further instructed Police Officers in charge of the respective areas to arrest those responsible for the destruction of the forest reserves.
The orders were issued after information on the destruction was reported via social media and other media outlets in the country.
Meanwhile Ada Derana reported that over 150 acres of the Rathmale Forest Reserve in Howrowpathana have been destroyed by an unidentified group.
Area residents have charged that the destruction is being carried out with the support of Forest Department officers. (NewsWire)