Sept 03, Badulla: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the officials to take measures to ban felling trees or new cultivations in areas above 5,000 feet from sea level.

The aim of this action is to protect the upper catchment areas of the island. Although there are laws to prevent these disastrous actions, the implementation lacks vigour. The laws are expected to be strictly abided in the future.

The President issued these instructions during the Uva Province progressive meeting held at Uva Provincial Council Building Auditorium today.

Secretary to the President Lalith Weerathunge, Finance Ministry Secretary, Dr. P. B. Jayasundara, Secretary to the Ministry of Highways Wasantha Karannagoda, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Uva Province Governor Nanda Mathew, Chief Minister Shashendra Rajapaksa, parliamentarians and heads of government institutions also were present.

(Photo by Sudath Silva)