The Sinharaja Forest, covering 11,187 hectares across Ratnapura, Galle, and Matara districts, is surrounded by 22 villages, including Lankagama, situated 827 feet above sea level in the Galle district.
The area has long been discussed for road development, particularly the Lankagama to Neluwa road, which passes through several villages before reaching Neluwa.
This road runs near Brahmana Ella in Sinharaja and stretches 18 kilometers in total.
Lankagama, recognized as an eco-tourism zone, has been known for selling local products like Kithul jaggery and treacle.
However, a recent visit to Lankagama revealed ongoing illegal activities, such as large-scale sand and timber smuggling in nearby forests, streams, and the Gin Ganga.
Despite a ban on sand mining in Gin Ganga, illegal mining continues with support from a former local politician and a former national politician.
An unauthorized sand mining site near the Hariyawa Dola Reserve has been operating, with significant backing from local figures, despite the environmental risks. Meanwhile, a local politician from Neluwa is attempting to widen the Gamsabha road under the pretext of building an access road to a relative’s house, but residents believe the real goal is to facilitate sand mining operations in the area, which threatens both the Sinharaja Reserve and the Gin Ganga River system.
