Sri Lankan government denies opposition's charge of illegal sand dredging and encroachments in Wilpattu sanctuary

Sept 24, Colombo: Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) has alleged that illegal sand dredging was taking place in lands belonging to the Wilpattu National Park in the northwest.
UNP parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekera has told parliament that 15,000 cubes of sand from the Modaragan Aru river, in the park have been illegally dredged.

He has also charged that a government minister had illegally settled some families in land belonging to the sanctuary.

Jayasekera has shown photographs in parliament to prove his allegations.
Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S.M. Chandrasena however has denied the accusations saying there was no sand dredging in Modaragan Aru, except when the navy had dredged the river bank to prevent a possible flood.

As for the families in sanctuary lands, Chandrasena has said the UNP parliamentarian had shown photographs of low income families taken from elsewhere.
 Source:http://www.colombopage.com/archive_11A/Sep24_1316840687JR.php