The Political Hand Consuming Mahaweli Reserves:
By Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi
The primary political slogans of the current government are “a country free of corruption” and “equal law for all.” However, a sensitive report from the Hambantota Mahaweli zone proves that regardless of the regime, the law remains a mere rubber band to be bent at will by powerful politicians and state officials. This is not just a land grab; it is an organized environmental destruction carried out under the guise of political patronage.
On January 10, 2026, tensions rose in the Katuwewa area of Hambantota when local farmers stepped forward to protest the large-scale clearing of a forest reserve using backhoes. This reserve falls under the “Haritha Farmers’ Organization” of the Mayurapura Mahaweli Authority in the Hambantota District. Farmers alleged that two local politicians abused their power to attempt the destruction of nearly five acres of reserved land through their party loyalists.
Direct accusations were leveled against two members representing the National People’s Power (NPP) from the Hambantota Municipal Council and the Ambalantota Pradeshiya Sabha. It is ironic that representatives of a political movement claiming to “eradicate corruption” are allegedly attempting to plunder state forest reserves.
The Mask of Destruction
The most alarming revelation of this investigation is the tactic used to justify this environmental damage. According to Ajith Vasantha, Chairman of the Katuwewa Haritha Farmers’ Organization, permission had been obtained to clear minor paths within the forest to mitigate the human-elephant conflict. However, abusing this permission, an operation was launched to completely clear the valuable reserve for land acquisition instead of creating elephant corridors or paths.
Responding to a Request for Information (RTI), the Residential Business Manager of the Walawe Special Area (Eng. G.M.S.N. Gunasekara) stated that prior to January 10, permission was granted only to clear paths for an elephant driving operation conducted jointly by the Wildlife Office and the Pradeshiya Sabha. The information further revealed that no written permission was granted to any individual or institution to clear the reserve beyond that specific operation.
Furthermore, on January 10, 2026, security officers of the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority (SLMA) arrested a Secretary of an NPP regional committee who was operating a backhoe at the site. This was reported in writing to the Residential Business Manager on the same day. Following reports that a high-ranking official at the Mayurapura Mahaweli Divisional Office was attempting to illegally release the seized JCB machine and the suspects, we inquired with the Residential Business Manager (Walawe Zone) on the evening of January 10. He assured that no illegal release would occur and that the law would be enforced.
However, the Mayurapura Mahaweli Office filed the complaint at the Hambantota Headquarters Police only on January 12. This delay suggests that the Mahaweli Authority was hesitant to take legal action and only did so following our journalistic intervention.
The ‘Settlement’ Drama in Law Enforcement
The most serious irregularity in law enforcement came to light upon examining police reports obtained via RTI from the Tangalle Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Office, dated March 28, 2026. The investigation into the JCB machine (No: ZA 2090), its driver, and the NPP affiliate who aided the act was limited to a mere “warning.”
According to the Information Officer of the Tangalle SSP Office, a complaint was recorded under MCR 80/2026 at the Hambantota Police. However, no suspects were produced in court. The police cited the reason as the Mahaweli officials (the complainants) requesting that “legal action against the suspect is not required and to release him with a warning.” This confirms that the initial move by the Mayurapura Mahaweli Office to enforce the law was likely a facade to mislead us or other parties.
According to the settlement record in the Minor Complaints Division (CIB 2 – 107) of the Hambantota Police, the respondent, one W.G. Chandrasena, stated he “cleared the land for farming without Mahaweli permission and was unaware of the gravity of the act.” Is it not obvious that a political hand influenced the decision to release a suspect with a warning for clearing a state reserve with heavy machinery? The ultimate irony is that this individual, Chandrasena, was a vocal protestor against the clearing of Mahaweli reserves when the current government was in the opposition. His plea of ignorance regarding the gravity of the act is nothing short of a joke.
The Double Standard of the Mahaweli Authority
Why do Mahaweli officials, who ruthlessly enforce the law against an ordinary farmer for cutting a small branch, turn silent before political cronies destroying five acres? The internal corruption of the institution is evident when officials arrest a machine only to later agree to its release without court intervention. Furthermore, by releasing suspects and machinery that should have been produced before a court, these officials have deprived the state of potential fines—an act that constitutes a loss to the state under the Bribery or Corruption Investigation Act.
Documents obtained from the Mahaweli Authority itself identify this land as a “Mahaweli Forest Reserve.” Clearing such land is an offense punishable by years of imprisonment. Releasing suspects on a simple promise to “not do it again” is not only a blow to the rule of law but also illustrates how the current anti-corruption government grants impunity to its supporters.
The destruction of the Katuwewa reserve is not an isolated incident; it is a nexus of political power, bureaucracy, and environmental crime. Land grabbing under the guise of solving the elephant conflict must stop immediately.
The government holds the responsibility to ensure that “equal law for all” is more than a slogan. An impartial investigation must be launched into the political heavyweights who ordered the destruction and the Mahaweli officials who facilitated it. If not, the remaining reserves in Hambantota will vanish under the protection of political masks.
