Environment Protection Agency has decided not to give the permit to develop Ga.Odegalla as a resort. 

A report published by the EPA today states that since the island is a habitat for birds, if developed as a resort it will be destroyed. In addition it says that in some seasons turtles lay eggs on the island and the reef of the island is also very rich. 

The report states that if the island is developed as a resort, the environmental damages will be irrecoverable. Furthermore, the report states that the surrounding area of the island is used to catch bait by fishermen of Addu and Huvadhoo Atoll and hence developing a resort would result in economic and social damages to the fishermen of these two atolls.