Sri Lanka, April 18 -- The Additional Magistrate of Anuradhapura, Kanchana Narthana Abhimani Seneviratne has directed Anuradhapura Range Forest Officer Sumith Suvaris to initiate legal proceedings against a businessman accused of clearing 18 acres in the Mihintale Forest Reserve in the Maradankulama area, and illegally attempting to acquire an additional six acres by setting it on fire. The Forest Conservation Department highlighted that all four permits allegedly associated with the land are fraudulent.

Consequently, the Additional Magistrate has further instructed Ranger Suvaris to file a complaint with the Anuradhapura Special Crime Investigation Division and pursue further legal action.

During the Court proceedings for case number B...