He  made these observations in Parliament yesterday joining the committee stage debate on the budget proposals for the fiscal year 2016 under the financial heads of Women and Child Affairs Ministry, Mahaveli Development and Environment Ministry and Irrigation and Water Resource Management Ministry.

Today, Sri Lanka has a forest cover of around 19-23 percent.  We should protect existing forest cover by preventing illegal destruction of forests.  The Minister pointed out that a methodology should be introduced for the people to meet their demand of timber from their home gardens.

While encouraging the traditional chena farmers, consideration should be made with regard to allocating lands for them, Minister Yapa added.