About 100 acres of forest had been destroyed in the Kurutiyamotta area, Eluwankulama, Wanathavilluwa with the support of a local politician and several government officials, environment organizastions claimed.

Organiser of the 'Wayamba Handa' Environment Organisation, Ajith Gihan said that forest clearance had been done using chainsaws over several months.

Using chainsaws, ‘ Palu’ trees which were more than 200 years old had been felled and removed stealthily, he charged.

Wanathavilluwa divisional secretary Chaturaka Jayasinghe revealed that he had received information about this forest destruction and that steps were being taken to arrest the suspects concerned.