News

Animals devoured 93 mn coconuts in first six months of last year

Published

3 years ago

2023/01/19

By Ifham Nizam

A study conducted by the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agricultural Research and Training Institute has revealed that more than 200 agricultural development areas were damaged by Torque monkeys; gian squirrels damaged 180 agricultural development areas and monkeys another 50 areas.

The annual coconut harvest in Sri Lanka is between 2,500 and 3,000 million nuts. Drought, damage from wild animals, and other pestilential conditions, cause some variation in this yield.

The Hector Kobbekaduwa Agricultural Research and Training Institute says that the biggest damage to coconut cultivation in Sri Lanka is caused by Torque monkeys, monkeys and giant squirrels. According to the study conducted by the institute regarding the agricultural and wildlife conflict in Sri Lanka, in the six months from January to June of 2022, coconut plantations have suffered the most crop damage due to wild animals.

During the six month period, 93 million coconuts have been destroyed by Torque monkeys, monkeys and giant squirrels, and by the end of 2022, the situation has increased to 180-200 million coconuts.

Accordingly, the number of hectares affected by coconut crop damage in 21 districts is 57,815. The extent of land planted with coconuts in those areas, is 275,540 hectares, of which 21 percent has been damaged by wildlife.

Depending on the amount of damaged coconuts between 1,600 and 2,000 coconuts per hectare have been destroyed by wild animals.

According to the Coconut Research Institute, the total area under coconut cultivation in the country is 440,640 hectares, and 13.1 percent of the coconut cultivation has been destroyed by animals.

Kurunegala, Puttalam, Ratnapura, Kegalle are the worst affected districts.

The area of crop damage in the Kurunegala District is 24,038 hectares. The number of coconuts lost due to damage caused by animals is 42 million––Puttalam 13 million, Ratnapura 11 million coconuts, Kegalle four million coconuts and Moneragala three million.

Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has appointed a committee headed by the Secretaries of the two Ministries, and the Director Generals of Wildlife and Forest Conservationists to take all possible steps to reduce crop damage by animals.

The Ministry of Agriculture has commenced discussions with the participation of all parties regarding the measures to be taken to prevent crop damage caused by wild animals.

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News

Animal Welfare Draft Bill to be Gazetted

Published

16 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

A specialists committee has been appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation adhering to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 29.12.2025 for submitting appropriate recommendations analyzing the provisions of the draft bill formulation in regard to Animal Welfare.

Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, the Legal Draftsman has been instructed at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 18.05.2026 to prepare the final bill on the animal welfare.

Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the draft bill and the clearance of the Attorney General has been received in the connection.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to publish the said draft bill in the
Government Gazette Notification and subsequently forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.

News

Legal provisions on marking voters using indelible ink during elections removed

Published

16 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

Under the legal provisions for elections in this country since 2004, it is mandatory for voters who come to mark their votes to verify their identity through a valid identity card, and it is also mandatory for all such voters to be marked with an appropriate mark using indelible ink. The dual purpose of these two functions is to prevent a voter from voting more than once in a single election.

It has been observed that having to follow two different
methods at the same time to achieve the same objective hinders the efficiency of the duties performed at the polling stations and also incurs additional costs to the government.

Therefore, it has been deemed appropriate to remove the legal provisions regarding the use of indelible ink and marking the voter with the appropriate mark from all election acts.

Accordingly, the development activities of the province, as well as national security, will benefit. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the
President to take necessary steps to remove the legal provisions

• Section 36 of the presidential Election Act, No 15 of 1981
• Section 38 of the Parliamentary Election Act, No 01 of 1981
• Section 36 of the Provincial Council Election Act, No 02 of 1988
• Section 53 A of the Local Government Elections Ordinance (262 Authority)
• Section 21 of the Referendum Act No 7 of 1981

News

Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts

Published

17 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 24 JUNE 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 24 June 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.

Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expectedat times over the Western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.