- the extent of the forest land located in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of the overall forest cover in Sri Lanka is 41% and due to the conflict situation which prevailed in the past, field activities of the Forest Conservation Department in these Provinces had remained totally defunct. The proposal made by Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Environment and Renewable Energy, to proceed with the activities relating to the construction of 04 District Forest Offices in these two Provinces, was approved by the Cabinet.