Aug 04, Colombo: Sri Lanka Minister of Environment Anura Priyadarshana Yapa has directed the District Forest Officers to initiate legal action against the individuals who destroy the forests irrespective of their status, Ministry sources say.

A spokesman of the National Disaster Management Center said that two forest reserves were on fire today in Badulla and Ratnapura districts. He said that steps have been taken to distinguish the fires.

Meanwhile another fire broke out in Ohiya area near the hill country railway line.

Nuwara Eliya District Secretary D. G. G. Kumarasiri has said that another fire has broken out in the same area of Pattipola - Ohia region where a wild fire destroyed around 1,000 acres of forest.

The Air Force was deployed yesterday to distinguish the wild fire erupted in a forest reserve between Ohia and Pattipola railway stations in the Nuwara Eliya district.

The train service on the upcountry tracks has been delayed due to the fires.

Police are conducting investigations to determine the cause of the fires.