The forest officer of the Hatton Forest Office said that the fire that broke out in the Watawala Fines Forest Reserve on the night of (10) is still spreading and that his office officials are trying to control the spreading fire.
The officer said that a group of people had set fire to the reserve near Hatton Oya in this reserve, which is located adjacent to the Watawala Railway Station and the road leading to the Mountain Estate, on the night of (10). The fire has spread rapidly to the mountain peaks of the reserve due to the prevailing dry weather. The fire has so far destroyed about 10 acres.
The Hatton Police Station Officer is appealing to the public to take steps to inform the nearest police station or his office if they have information about such individuals, as the current dry weather in the western slopes of the Central Highlands is causing some people to set fires in reserves.