Sri Lanka, April 8 -- The Department of Forest Conservation yesterday refuted media reports that a hotel is being built in the Sinharaja Forest.

Issuing a media release, the Department of Forest Conservation stated that the reported land is located at a distance of 3.5 km from the Sinharaja Forest and 5 km away from the boundary line of the Sinharaja World Heritage site.

It is further stated that this private land is located outside the Sinharaja Forest Reserve which was declared in 2019.

It is an abandoned private tea land and this land is adjacent to the Pothupitiya - Rakwana road. It is reported that there are three constructions in this area and the approval of the Pradeshiya Sabha has been obtained for the construction of those ho...