The Hon. Padmasiri Bandara
Hon. Padmasiri Bandara seconded the motion and argued that pine and eucalyptus plantations have caused significant ecological damage in Sri Lanka, particularly in the central highlands, while contributing little to national timber demand. He stated that these invasive plantings destroy habitats, affect water sources and downstream agriculture, and may destabilize slopes after felling. He called for their systematic removal.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 [4.23 p.m.]
¶ 02 Mr. Presiding Member, I second the motion. Sri Lanka is a biodiverse, beautiful country, but invasive plantings have eroded that uniqueness in many areas. Pine was introduced ostensibly to meet timber needs, yet Sri Lanka has about 16,400 ha of pine and 27,500 ha of eucalyptus—too little to meet national timber demand, and at great ecological cost. These plantations, especially in the central highlands, destroy understorey and habitat so thoroughly that even elephants avoid them. We should begin systematic removal.
¶ 03 Globally, pine is nicknamed a “water pump.” In cold, landslide‑prone, high‑slope regions, it can stabilize saturated soils. Here, after felling, slopes destabilize and water sources are harmed far beyond the highlands—affecting downstream tanks, agriculture, transport, and lives. Iconic waterfalls have diminished. Therefore, this invasive planting must be removed.
¶ 04 Question proposed.
Provenance
- Source
- Hansard, Friday, 8 May 2026 ·No. 23554 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. Padmasiri Bandara. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 8 May 2026. No. 23554. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/22795