The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment

¶ 01 Chair, to answer the question raised by Hon. Kader Mastan on 24.07.2025 regarding release of private lands acquired in the Vanni Electoral District, we obtained information from the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Department, Ministry of Defence, Department of Archaeology, and the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs. Based on their inputs, I present the following.

¶ 02 1) Yes.

¶ 03 Department of Wildlife Conservation: In Mullaitivu District, the Department has, by Gazette, declared for conservation: - Chundikkulam National Park, Nayaru Nature Reserve, and Nandikadal Nature Reserve totaling 28,171.32 ha. In Mannar District: - Vedithalathivu Nature Reserve, Chankalai Sanctuary, Adam’s Bridge (Rama Sethu) National Park, and Madhu Road National Park totaling 216,075.95 ha. In Vavuniya District: - No wildlife reserves have been gazetted.

¶ 04 Table tabled: District | Reserve | Gazette No. | Extent (ha) - Mullaitivu: Chundikkulam NP (1920/3) – 19,565.30; Nayaru NR (1836/80) – 4,464.35; Nandikadal NR (2003/10) – 4,141.67 - Mannar: Vedithalathivu NR (1956/3) – 29,180; Chankalai Sanctuary (1566/3) – 4,838.95; Adam’s Bridge NP (1920/3) – 18,990; Madhu Road NP (1920/3) – 163,067 - Vavuniya: No wildlife reserves declared

¶ 05 As Vavuniya reserves were gazetted after 2009 resettlement pressures, exact private ownership cannot be definitively stated where claimants have not legally established title.

¶ 06 Forest Department: Following the end of the conflict, large-scale forest clearing occurred for resettlement from 2009 in Vavuniya, Mannar and Mullaitivu without formal permissions. Since 2011–2012, Forest Officers faced significant challenges and initiated protection by marking threatened areas based on forest cover using GPS coordinates and subsequently gazetting them up to 2021.

¶ 07 District-wise gazetted forest extents: - Vavuniya: 41,049.45 ha - Mannar: 73,199.74 ha - Mullaitivu: 40,030.53 ha - Mullaitivu (wildlife) additionally noted elsewhere: 171,817.83 ha

¶ 08 Tables tabled (Vavuniya forest reserves – selected): 1. Kurukkalpudukulam – 1,943 ha – Gaz. 1770/13 – 08.08.2012 2. Puliyankulam – 3,361 ha – Gaz. 1770/13 – 08.08.2012 3. Iranai Iluppukulam – 2,884 ha – Gaz. 1779/4 – 10.10.2012 4. Periyakuriyuttikulam – 1,841 ha – Gaz. 1779/15 – 10.10.2012 5–17. Multiple reserves (Elamuradankulam, Nambankulam, Neelayamottai 01 & 02, Kandasaminagar, Periyakavau, Kangankulam, Maduranagar, Sinnakulam, Pudiya Sinnakulam, Manilankulam, Mohoththankulam, Kaundakarakulam) – Gaz. 2257/59–68 – 10.12.2021 18–21. Periyamadhu reserves and others – Gaz. 1770/13; 1784/10 – 2012 Total (Vavuniya): 41,049.45 ha

¶ 09 These declarations aimed to curb illegal clearing and protect forest cover while resettlement proceeded under due process.