Surprising Sri Lanka protest grabs government attention

Destructive land grabs in Sri Lanka’s ancient Nilgala forest have ceased – at least for now. Friends of the Earth Sri Lanka and its allies drew nationwide media attention in January 2014, with a massive and highly imaginative ceremony: Nilgala’s trees were ordinated (similar to consecration or sanctification) in a Buddhist ritual.

Working with Friends of the Earth International, Friends of the Earth Sri Lanka initiated an online action demanding an end to the land grabbing and greater protection for the forest. No new land grabs have occurred and there is now a special task force in place to monitor the forest.