Cleaning out shrimp farms won't hurt oxygen - Sanath Nishantha

State minister - Sanath Nishantha has stated that he has nothing to do with clearing of the Anavilundawa sanctuary area for shrimp farming.

He adds that there is no affect to Oxygen levels either, when cleaning a shrimp farm.

It is said that the area was handed over to a company for shrimp farming by J.R. Jayewardene. After the company abandoned the 200 acre land in 1996, the people of the area had been cultivating prawns by paying taxes to the government, he adds.

Noting that the prevailing issue is a battle between law and humanity, Nishantha said he chose to be on the side of the people.

Political bigwigs behind Anavilundawa disaster

Meanwhile, Chairman of 'Lak Soba' Conservators - Samantha Gunasekera said that a group with political might was behind the Anavilundawa destruction, who had prepared the sanctuary ground for shrimp farming.

He also said that those who had turned anxious when the Wildlife department had initiated a Mangrove restoration programme, were behind this.