Aug 10, Colombo: Coalition party of Sri Lankan government Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) has protested the government's attempts to amend the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance and the Forest Conservation Ordinance.

Parliament group leader of JHU Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero says that the party will oppose any attempt to amend laws that affect the environment.

Sri Lanka Collective of Environmental Organizations says that the amendments will have very destructive effects on the flora and fauna. According to them the present one kilometer reserved area around the forest reserves will be removed and the developments such as hotels on the edges of the forest reserves will affect the existence of flora and fauna.

With the amendments, the opportunity will be granted to individuals to rear wild animals domestically. The additional reserved land around the forests can be used for development activities, the Collective of Environmental Organizations point out.

They point out that the government's need of freeing land for tourism and development will lead to a massive destruction of the environment.