News

Action plan to tackle human-elephant conflict before President within two weeks

Published

5 years ago

2020/10/2

Text and pic by PRIYAN DE SILVA

Dr Sumith Pilapitiya, a member of the three-member committee appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to find a stable solution to the human-elephant conflict (HEC) told stakeholders who made suggestions to the committee on Wednesday (30) that the action plan would be presented to the President within the next two weeks.

The committee comprises Vernon Perera, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation, Dr Sumith Pilapitiya and Dr Prithiviraj Fernando Chairman of the Centre for Conservation and Research Sri Lanka ((CCR).

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa directed officials to the devise a sustainable solution to human-elephant conflict within two years.

Pilapitiya said that the Wildlife Department had to protect 1.2 million hectares (nearly 66% of the country). He reiterated that it was a proven fact that community owned and maintained electric fences were more effective to keep elephants away from cultivations and villages than those maintained by the government.

Hasitha Wijenayake of Human Society International queried if the action plan proposed by the committee would be in conflict with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Tina Jayaratnam suggested that the available data on elephant movements be made available online to help other entities plan land use at the District and Divisional level.

Sarath Ganegoda, an animal lover, suggested that people living within wildlife sanctuaries be relocated.

Namal Kamalgoda said the government had to optimise the use of arable land in areas where there were no elephants instead of allocating lands for cultivation in areas where elephants roamed.

Ranil Pieris said that only one third of the arable land which amounted to 30% of the existing land area was being used for agriculture and suggested that vertical living for rural societies be looked into.

Ashani, a lecturer at the University of Kelaniya suggested Banyan Trees (Ficus benghalensis) as an alternative to electric fences. While a retired employee of the Department of Railways suggested using the thousands of discarded rails to construct barriers to keep elephants away.

Rev. Joseph Jeyaraj Chairman of the Call to Fair and Share Foundation and its project Director Sriyananda suggested the use of flexible rubber posts for fencing, growing a bio fence and reforestation of wildlife life reserves. They said that they had presented their proposal to the 2018 Peace Forum and were able to raise five billion rupees for the project if the government gave them the green light.

A business entity made a presentation on an electric fence and a studded mat which would keep the elephants away.

Amrith Jayewardene said that the proposals should have been implemented two decades back and suggested a warning system on problem elephants based on a PPGIS.

There were requests from more than one stakeholder to do away with the ‘elephant crackers’ being used to drive away elephants from crops and villages as they made the elephants more aggressive.

In reply to a question raised by Jehan Canageratne, Secretary of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society Dr Sumith Pilapitiya said that it was imperative that the action plan presented to the President should be implemented fully.

Everyone present commended the very informative presentation made by Dr Prithiviraj Fernando on the Human Elephant Conflict.

All News Advertisement

Latest News

Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts

Published

2 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED

Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

Latest News

Minister of Foreign Affairs pays his last respects to Pope Francis

Published

3 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]

News

RW to visit CIABOC on Monday

Published

4 hours ago

2025/04/27

Thilina Walpola

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.

Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.

Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.

In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.

Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.

The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.

He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.

According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.

Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.

However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.