Tense argument in Parliament on road through Sinharaja

COLOMBO (News1st): A tense exchange of words took place in Parliament on Tuesday on the construction of a road through the Sinharaja forest without an environmental impact assessment (EIA). Opposition lawmaker Harsha de Silva questioned the grounds under which the government has dismissed the requirement for an EIA concerning the project. "The development of an existing road doesn't require an EIA. The construction of only a new road requires an EIA," environment minister Mahinda Amaraweera noted. But de Silva citing state documents pointed out that any project, whether old or new, requires an EIA. Johnston Fernando, the highways minister, observed that the construction of the road has been completed and that only the drainage system is to be built in the area. Government ministers insisted that even a single tree had not been destroyed in the development process.