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

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the answer is as follows.

¶ 02 (a) (i) Department of Wildlife Conservation: The wildlife reserve relevant to Polpithigama DS Division is the Kahalla–Pallekele Sanctuary, which spans Kurunegala and Anuradhapura Districts, totaling approximately 8,777.63 hectares, of which about 5,352.86 hectares fall within Polpithigama DS Division. Department of Forest Conservation: Within Polpithigama DS Division there are Reserved Forests of approximately 13,833 ha, Conservation Forests of approximately 496 ha, and other residual forests of approximately 560 ha.

¶ 03 (ii) Yes.

¶ 04 (iii) Recently, the Department of Survey has carried out surveys of a portion of residential lands within the Sanctuary. Further identification will continue.

¶ 05 (iv) Hakwatunawa Reservoir lies within Polpithigama DS Division under the Hiriyagala Provincial Road Engineering Division, with a capacity of 19,728 acre-feet. Demarcation of the reservoir reserve commenced in 2017. A sum of Rs. 643,080 has been paid as survey fees to the Senior Superintendent of Surveys. As per survey orders, the reserve boundary is to be marked horizontally 100 metres from the high flood level. About 90% of the remaining portion has been provisionally marked with boundary posts and GPS coordinates obtained.

¶ 06 (b) (i) Facilities relevant to human settlements have been provided after gazetting. (ii) Government schools: 04; Grama Niladhari offices: 02; Clinic centres: 03; Temples: 05. (iii) There is no regional office of the Department of Forest Conservation at Herathgama; therefore, no action has been taken by its officers to institute cases. (iv) A committee comprising representatives of all relevant agencies has been appointed to resolve land issues within the Kahalla–Pallekele Sanctuary and is deliberating. Future action will be taken as per its decisions.

¶ 07 (c) Not applicable.