Palmyrah palms become victims of EPDP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The EPDP is cutting down a large number of Palmyrah palms surrounding its camp in Madaththuveli in the island of Pungudutheevu off Jaffna complained residents today. More than five hundred full grown Palmyrah palms in the area have been cut down by the EPDP cadres for security reasons said a member of the Pungudutheevu Vigilance Committee.

His colleagues said that more than two thousand Palmyrah palms in the islands are expected to be cut down soon.

The EPDP has been vociferous in its protests over the wanton destruction of the Palmyrah by the Sri Lankan army which finds the straight strong logs of the palm useful for building bunkers.

The group has complained in the past that the environmental balance of the peninsula could be affected seriously as the Palmyrah is central to its ecology.

The EPDP announced a program last year to plant a million Plamyrah saplings in Jaffna.