(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – A campaign to plant 100,000 trees around the Wilpattu region commenced yesterday under the patronage of Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen. As a first step of this program, 3000 saplings were planted in areas on both sides of the main road around Wilpattu such as Marichikatti, Navatkuli and Silavaturai.
Minister Bathiudeen told the media that he had contacted several environmental organizations askings them to donate saplings after people in the region requested his assistance to plant trees to replace those destroyed during the war.
He further said that people living in the region had returned to their original lands after earlier been evicted by the LTTE. The Minister added that rather than criticize these persons based on racial prejudices, but to assist them in any way possible.