News
New national plan targets lasting solution to Human-Elephant conflict
By Ifham Nizam
The government has launched a fresh national drive to tackle Sri Lanka’s long-standing human-elephant conflict (HEC), with a strong emphasis on restoring elephant corridors, establishing elephant enrichment zones and strengthening community participation as part of a new National Action Plan.
The National Action Plan Monitoring Committee met in Parliament yesterday under the co-chairmanship of Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi and Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody, bringing together Members of Parliament from high-conflict districts, senior government officials, wildlife authorities and administrators to chart a long-term strategy to reduce one of the country’s most pressing conservation and socio-economic challenges.
The initiative comes amid growing concern over the continued loss of human lives, elephant deaths and escalating damage to crops and property caused by the conflict.
Environment Ministry Advisor Dr. Ravindra Kariyawasam told The Island that the new action plan would move beyond ad hoc responses and instead adopt a science-based, community-driven approach built on updated field data.
“The previous National Action Plan was prepared in 2020. Much has changed since then. Elephant movement patterns, forest cover and land-use practices have all evolved over the past five years. Therefore, the country urgently needs a revised strategy based on current scientific evidence and practical realities,” Dr. Kariyawasam said.
He said one of the central pillars of the new strategy would be restoring traditional elephant migratory routes that have been blocked by unplanned development and human encroachment.
“Clearing elephant corridors and protecting these movement routes are critical if we are to reduce encounters between elephants and people. At the same time, we are looking at establishing elephant enrichment zones that will improve habitat quality within forests and reduce pressure on surrounding villages and farmlands,” he said.
Dr. Kariyawasam noted that community participation would be a key component of the programme, as sustainable solutions could not be achieved through enforcement measures alone.
“We want local communities to become active partners in managing the conflict. Their knowledge, participation and ownership are essential if conservation measures are to succeed over the long term,” he added.
According to the Ministry, discussions at the Parliamentary committee also focused on improving the implementation of laws governing Managed Elephant Reserves and strengthening the operational capacity of the Department of Wildlife Conservation by providing additional human and physical resources.
The Government has already commenced several immediate interventions while the comprehensive action plan is being finalised. These include removing obstructions along traditional elephant corridors and establishing elephant enrichment zones under the national “Wanaspathi” programme.
Officials said the decision to formulate a new action plan followed a series of high-level discussions chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, during which concern was expressed over the increasing fragmentation of elephant habitats caused by rapid population growth, deforestation and unplanned development projects.
With Cabinet approval, a National Expert Committee comprising leading environmental specialists was appointed to prepare the updated strategy.
Dr. Kariyawasam said the Government’s objective was to replace short-term interventions with an integrated management framework that balances biodiversity conservation with the safety and livelihoods of rural communities.
“The ultimate goal is peaceful coexistence between people and elephants. That requires scientific planning, habitat restoration, effective law enforcement and sustained public participation rather than temporary solutions,” he said.
The Sri Lanka Navy successfully recovered its Fast Attack Craft P 4447 following a successful salvage operation, bringing a multi-stage emergency response to a close.
The craft, which ran into distress during a routine patrol on 15th August 2026 off Angulana, was brought to the surface on 11th September, from a depth of approximately 80 feet. It was
subsequently towed to the Colombo Dockyard premises.
The initial phase of the operation immediately following the incident focused on search and rescue. A joint effort involving the Navy, Air Force, Police, and local fishermen from Angulana
resulted in the rescue of 11 crew members. The search and rescue phase drew to a close with the recovery of the remains of the Second in Command of the craft, on 4th September.
Following the search and rescue phase, specialized Navy diving and salvage teams launched a dedicated recovery phase against rough sea conditions and underwater challenges, adhering to
strict safety protocols. The Navy’s marine, hull, electrical, and electronic engineering teams utilized specialized technical know-how and equipment to raise the vessel in stages.
Thus, the salvage operation marked an outstanding achievement attained through the professionalism, technical expertise of Navy divers, and coordinated contribution of all
engineering and technical branches of the Sri Lanka Navy. Technical support and specialized expertise were also extended by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Colombo Dockyard PLC.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Opposition should intensity its focus on the forthcoming selection of a member of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and remain vigilant as Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne, MP, the head of the Constitutional Council (CC) tasked with making the relevant recommendation, is under investigation by the CIABOC, sources familiar with the ongoing inquiry told The Island.
Chethiya Goonasekara, PC, is expected to complete his three-year term on Dec 31, 2026. Sources pointed out that CIABOC Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation made by the 10-member Constitutional Council.
The CIABOC initiated the investigation following a complaint lodged by suspended Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne in early February this year. Sources said that as Goonasekera is scheduled to complete his term toward the end of 2026, the CC would have to call applications soon to choose the successor.
Goonasekara received his appointment from President Ranil Wickremesinghe in January 2024. A Justice W. M. N. P. Iddawala was appointed Chairman of the CIABOC. The other commissioner is K. Bernard Rajapakse.
Asked whether Iddawala and Rajapakse, too, would complete their terms soon, sources said that in terms of the Anti-Corruption Act No 09 of 2023, the Chairman of CIABOC would hold office for a period of five years, second commissioner (K. Bernard Rajapakse) for four years and the third commissioner (Chethiya Goonasekara) for a period of three years.
Sources said that the Opposition as well as civil society representatives in the CC should take up the issue of Speaker facing an investigation by the CIABOC taking part in the forthcoming selection process. Responding to queries, sources emphasized that the issue was whether in terms of Section 107 of the Anti-Corruption Act the participation of the Speaker in the selection process amounted to a violation of the Act itself.
The current members of the CC are Dr Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker and Chairman of the Constitutional Council, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister, Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, Bimal Rathnayake, MP, Aboobucker Athambawa, MP, Ajith P. Perera, MP, Sivagnanam Shritharan, MP, Austin Fernando, Civil society representative, Prof. Wasantha Seneviratne, Civil society representative and Ranjith Ariyaratne, Civil society representative.
Sources pointed out that in spite of the sensitivity of the case, the CIABOC recorded Kularatne’s statement in the second week of August, six months after he lodged the complaint.
The CIABOC on 3, 8 and 10 Sept recorded the statements from the Transport Officer, Deputy Director, Administration and Assistant Director, Finance regarding the use of facilities by the Speaker, those assigned to his staff and other relevant matters.
The NPP named Dr. Wickramaratne as the Speaker after Asoka Ranwala resigned over controversy regarding his higher education qualifications.
SJB lawmaker Dayasiri Jayaskera has repeatedly raised the issues concerning the Speaker with the focus also on the Speaker using two government-managed residences, relevant staff in addition to expenditure on food, transport and fuel provided to the Speaker’s private secretary.
Political sources said that trouble erupted after the Parliamentary Staff Advisory Council in late January sacked Kularatne accusing him of providing false information to secure his appointment. Before being appointed as the Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament in 2023, Kularatne held several high-ranking positions, including Secretary to the Chief Government Whip, Additional Secretary to the President, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Additional Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition.
The SJB declared in Parliament that Ranwala should be brought back as the Speaker as they have no faith in Wickramaratne. MP Mujibur Rahuman jokingly told parliament that the Opposition wouldn’t raise Ranwala’s educational qualifications.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has stressed the need to conduct a comprehensive countrywide cadre revision urgently.
GMOA spokesman Dr. Lasitha Dhammika told The Island that the failure on the part of successive governments to conduct cadre revision caused the deterioration of the public sector health services. Due to the absence of required statistics, they hadn’t been able to fully comprehend the situation on the ground and to ascertain the requirements of the public.
Dr. Dhammika pointed out the expansion of the services without supporting statistics and the need to initiate an immediate cadre revision. According to him, the GMOA had raised this issue with successive governments without success. The GMOA spokesman said that they also sought relevant information from the Health Ministry in terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act two weeks ago but was yet to receive response.
(SF)
Fast Attack Craft P 4447 recovered in successful salvage operation
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