• Forges ahead despite lacking SLTPB/DWC approval, says Rs. 33 mn spent
• DWC confirms Diana’s presence during 1st meeting in Colombo with organisers

The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) noted that they had not granted approval for the Deep Jungle Festival despite the event organisers yesterday (14) claiming that they would proceed with the event as they had not received any official letter denying approval of the event by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).

Speaking to The Daily Morning, DWC Director General (DG) Chandana Sooriyabandara yesterday said: “No. We have not given any approval. We have requested some information, and once they provide all that information, we can consider.”

However, when queried as to whether the event would be cancelled in light of the same, Deep Jungle Festival Founder Sumudu Saman told The Daily Morning: “We did not get any official letter”, adding therefore that they would hence proceed with the event. “I have spent almost Rs. 33 million for this event. It is not a small amount. There are hundreds of people working. They have given us approval. They cannot deny it. There are only three days left. We went with all the documents. We have come this far. When we started, we had a meeting in Colombo and there was another meeting at the Hingurakgoda Divisional Secretariat, and it was only then that we went forward. We got all the necessary approvals. Almost all the authorities physically visited the place where the event is to be held, and thereafter they gave the conditions and approvals. We have already given the proposal requesting permission,” he added. 

Further, Sooriyabandara said that there was an initial meeting regarding the event with the organisers in which State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage also participated. “They need to know the meaning of approval. It appears that they don’t have any idea of the approval process. Our officers, during the meeting, had requested them to submit certain information to us. Once that is given, we can consider providing consent, but not approval. They have to provide all the information as to what they are going to do – the location, the duration and the activities. They are yet to provide all that information,” he added. 

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday, Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) Senior Advisor Hemantha Withanage said that legal action would be taken if the event organisers and the Police Department violate the Police Circular 2034/2007, as this circular on noise is a stringent one. “It is illegal. On Monday (13), we sent a letter of demand (LoD) to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne, the Forest Department, other relevant authorities, and the organiser. If they proceed with this, they will be violating the noise-related circular issued by the Police Department, which they cannot do. They have to respect the provisions of this circular. 

“According to the circular, they cannot make any noise from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. This is the verdict of a Supreme Court (SC) case in 2007,” he added. 

He further said: “Right now, under the National Environmental Act, there are other standards which state that, the maximum noise level for a rural residential area is 55 decibels in the daytime is 45 decibels during the night. This is not even a rural area, this is a forest and it is therefore, a silent zone. Therefore, they cannot make any noise at all.” 

On Monday, issuing a letter addressed to the Conservator General of Forests, the SLTPB categorically denied having provided any form of approval for the event. The letter further stated: “However, based on clearances obtained from other line agencies to stage this event and on the submission of the same, the SLTPB had provided endorsement from a tourism perspective which too will be withdrawn unless necessary environmental clearance is obtained. To the contrary, when all endeavours are to develop and promote tourism on a suitable platform together with the Ministry of Tourism, the SLTPB strongly recommends the cancelling of the planned event if the organisers have not obtained the necessary Environmental, Wildlife Conservation, Forest and other related agency clearances and approval.” 

The Deep Jungle Musical Festival is scheduled to be held from 17-20 February in the outskirts of Habarana.