UXOs hamper reforesting, forest inspection in Vanni

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2003, 00:10 GMT]
The Tamil Eelam Forestry Division (TEFD) sources said that unexploded ordnances (UXOs) pose danger to the inspection of the destruction caused to forests in the Vanni during Operation JayaSikuru in 1997, when Sri Lankan military officers felled large trees, destroyed forests and profited by exporting them to the South.

Teak trees in large tracks of land in Puliyankulam, Putur and Karipaddamurippu were completely felled, transported to the South and sold for profit by the SLA officers, according to sources in Vanni.

In addition, the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) destroyed the forests of Vanni –an important natural resource in the area--for their security, created large bunkers and left behind unexploded ordnances. These ordnances remain a threat to inspecting the destruction and reforesting the area, the TEFD sources said.