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Elephant deaths climb to 66 so far, this year
Children and wildlife officers inspecting a she elephant killed by an improvised explosive device, called hakkapatas, at Herathgama, in Kurunegala, on Monday.
by Ifham Nizam
Elephant deaths, so far this year, had shot up to 66, on Monday, when a she elephant succumbed to her injuries received from an improvised explosive device, commonly known as hakkapatas, Rally for Animal Rights and Environment (RARE) said yesterday.
Biodiversity Conservation and Research Circle of Sri Lanka Convener Supun Lahiru Prakash said the human-elephant conflict (HEC) had shown a rapid escalation recently.
“From 2016 to 2020 we have lost at least 1,578 elephants and the majority of them have died due to anthropogenic reasons. When compared with the 1992 – 2001 period, the present annual death rate of elephants shows about 90% rise and it is a 30% increase when compared with the 2005–2010 period. It is the highest annual death rate of elephants in the world.”
A sharp decrease in the elephant home ranges and repeating the failed mitigation measures were among the factors that have led to increased HEC in the county, according to experts.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a multi-stakeholder committee chaired by eminent elephant researcher Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando to prepare “National Action Plan for the Mitigation of Human-Elephant Conflict”, which was prepared and handed over to the government last December.
Pope Leo XIV appealed for “no more war” in a message to world powers during his first Sunday address at the Vatican.
Reflecting on current conflicts, the newly selected pontiff called for a “lasting peace” in the war in Ukraine, a ceasefire in Gaza, and welcomed Saturday’s agreement to end recent hostilities between India and Pakistan.
He said he was “deeply hurt” by events in Gaza, expressed hope for a “lasting accord” between India and Pakistan, and wished for a “authentic, true and lasting peace” in Ukraine.
The Pope also recited the Regina Caeli prayer, in honour of the Virgin Mary, to the crowd in St Peter’s Square.
Latest News
May this Vesak celebration be a blessed one filled with kindness and compassion towards all living beings – PM
In her Vesak day message, Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya wished that this Vesak celebration be a blessed one filled with kindness and compassion towards all living beings
The full text of the prime ministers vesak day message:
“It is an honor to extend my Vesak day message to all citizens of the nation during this sacred period in which Buddhist community across Sri Lanka come together to pay homage to the Lord Buddha, upholding both material and spiritual offerings and commemorating the threefold sacred events of the Lord Buddha’s life.
Since ancient times, the lives of the Sri Lankan people have been deeply rooted by the teaching of the Lord Buddha and this is a greater inheritance we have received through the Dhamma. In our country, where people of diverse ethnicities and religions coexist in harmony, the collective celebration of a major religious festival such as Vesak stands as a powerful testament to that unity.
This year Vesak day celebration marks the first to be celebrated under the current government, which was established with the vision of “A Prosperous Country, a Beautiful Life.” I believe that this Vesak season is a particularly a time to heal the hearts and minds of humanity, especially as our nation embarks on a path of meaningful transformation. Through this message, I take this opportunity to invite all of citizens to unite in mind and spirit, bound together by mutual respect and compassion.
I join all Sri Lankans in praying that the flames of war burning in various parts of the world at this moment may be extinguished, and that all people across the globe may be blessed with lives of happiness and peace.
May all of you have a blessed Vesak!”
News
Special waste management programme launched under “Clean Sri Lanka” during the State Vesak Festival
Parallel with the State Vesak Festival that commenced on Saturday (10) in the Nuwara Eliya District, a special waste management initiative has been launched under the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme to enhance facilities for devotees and ensure proper waste disposal in the city of Nuwara Eliya.
With hundreds of thousands of people expected to visit Nuwara Eliya during the Vesak Week, from May 10 to 16, this initiative is aimed at preserving the cleanliness and beauty of the area.
The programme will focus particularly on areas around the Gregory Lake, a key tourist attraction, and the Nuwara Eliya International Buddhist Centre, the venue for the State Vesak Festival.
In addition, the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative urges visiting devotees to refrain from bringing non-biodegradable material such as polythene and calls on all citizens to act responsibly by properly disposing of waste only at designated locations, while maintaining the sanctity and cleanliness of the environment.
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