– Five forests located in ecologically sensitive areas will be declared forest reserves on June 5, increasing Sri Lanka’s total number of protected forest reserves to 86.Environment Minister Dhammika Patabendi told a media briefing that the forests set to receive reserve status are Ritigala, Aliyawetunuwewa, Bulagala, Konkatiyawa, and Kallanchi, all of which have been identified as environmentally sensitive ecosystems requiring enhanced protection.

According to the Minister, 81 forests have already been gazette as reserves under the forestry protection initiative launched in 2025.