Declaring “Kuruvita Varnagala” as a protected zone
The proposed Warnagala area located in the domain of Adevi kanda Grama Niladhari division which belongs to Kuruwita Divisional Secretariat, in Ratnapura District and it is a part of natural forest located as the buffer zone of Samanala Wildlife Reserve. This area is located at a height of 450- 1350 meters above sea level, which is bordered by the district boundary separating Ratnapura and Kegalle districts to the north, and the border of Ratnapura Divisional Secretariat Division to the east and south. According to the studies carried out in the Warnagala area which is about 500 hectares in extent, this region has been identified as a very rich in terms of biodiversity and species of plants and animals unique to this region are found.
In the year 2020, Dehiwala, Young Zoological Association conducted a biodiversity study related to this region and the study report has shown many unique facts. 384 living species have been recorded there, including 220 animal species and 164 plant species. This precious forest is not legally designated as a protected area and is gradually facing various threats. Due to this, the proposal to declare this region as an environmental protection zone as well as the proposal to join the “Samanala Wildlife Reserve” has been presented and according to this, further work is going on. In this task, Kuruvita Divisional Secretariat, Central Environment Authority, Forest and Wild Life Conservation Department, Land Reform Commission, Land Use Policy Planning Department were engaged in a joint mission. The Department of Land Use Policy Planning has been entrusted with the tasks of identifying the proposed environmental protection zone, preparing maps including all information including the
location of the proposed zone, land use, land ownership etc.