An external fact checker has confirmed that the area that is being cleared does not belong to any forest reservation, nor is situated next to the boundary of a forest reservation. The people who were clearing the area had been unable to prove that it is a private property belonging to them, and therefore the clearing activities had been stopped temporarily, until they produce the required documents. Gampaha District Forest Officer Devani Jayathilake had stated that while it is confirmed that the area does not belong to a reservation, she cannot be sure whether it is a State owned land or a private property until the deeds for the land are produced. Read the fact check here (Sinhala): https://srilanka.factcrescendo.com/2021/02/17/the-land-cleared-in-mirigama-halpe-area-is-not-part-of-a-reserve/.