SriLanka, Oct. 4 -- Hundred and twenty one new forests covering 74,725.15 hectares in 11 districts have been gazetted as forest reserves during 2025 and up to September this year, according to the latest data from the Forest Conservation Department. The newly gazetted forests are located in Ampara, Kegalle, Galle, Puttalam, Kandy, Moneragala, Matara, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Anuradhapura and Vavuniya districts.

Environmentalists have repeatedly highlighted the lack of legal protection for many of Sri Lanka's forests as a serious concern, adding that it has hampered efforts to prevent violations of forest and wildlife laws. Discussions on the need to gazette forest lands and provide them with legal protection have been ongoing since 2018. ...