Politics · Sri Lanka Bureau
Government moves to establish Diyagama Forest as protected reserve
Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister of Environment has announced measures to protect the Diyagama Forest in Homagama, Colombo District, as a formal reserve. The woodland area has undergone natural regeneration over the past two decades.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
The government is implementing protective measures for the Diyagama forest area in Homagama within the Colombo District, Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody announced in Parliament on Friday. Speaking during a special parliamentary address, Jayakody outlined steps being taken to safeguard the ecologically sensitive site.
The forested area, originally an abandoned plot of land, has naturally regenerated over approximately two decades into a biodiverse woodland ecosystem. Officials have identified the forest as requiring formal protection status to preserve its ecological value and ensure its long-term sustainability.
The move to establish the Diyagama Forest as a reserve represents part of broader government efforts to conserve natural habitats in the Western Province. The initiative underscores the administration's commitment to environmental protection and sustainable land management in densely populated areas surrounding the capital.
Details regarding the timeline for formal reserve designation and specific conservation measures remain under development by the Ministry of Environment.