News

Environmentalists call for holistic approach to tackling crop damage caused by animals

Published

1 year ago

2024/12/21

Thilina Walpola

Coconuts damaged by monkeys. Image courtesy of Sahan Weerasingha

Blaming haphazard human actions for current plight

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Crop damage caused by animals can only be effectively addressed through a holistic approach that examines the factors driving wildlife out of their traditional habitats and the reasons behind the population growth of certain species, environmentalists assert.

The destruction and fragmentation of natural ecosystems to make way for human settlements, commercial plantations, and unplanned development projects have severely disrupted wildlife habitats in recent decades, Sajeewa Chamikara of the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR), said.

Additionally, the introduction and widespread cultivation of non-native plantations, such as acacia, pine, eucalyptus, and teak, along with monoculture cash crops, such as tea, rubber, oil palm, maize, and bananas, have resulted in the loss of natural habitats and food sources for animals.

“Moreover, the spread of invasive plant species, such as giant mimosa, lantana, guinea grass, thorny bushes, water hyacinth, and others, within these habitats, has rendered them unsuitable for wildlife. This has forced animals, such as monkeys, wild boars, porcupines, peacocks, and elephants, to leave their habitats and venture into farmlands, causing significant crop damage,” Chamikara said. He noted that human activities, such as improper waste disposal near wildlife habitats and the feeding of animals during tourism and religious activities, have encouraged these animals to move into farmland.

In addition to habitat loss and fragmentation, the decline in natural predators, due to habitat disruption, has led to population increases in certain species. Professor Sampath S. Seneviratne of the Department of Zoology and Environment Sciences at the University of Colombo highlighted the significant decline in the population of Sri Lankan jackals—around 60 percent in the last two decades—which, he said indicates serious environmental problems.

“Jackals and farmers are not in conflict. Jackals prey on animals that are a nuisance to farmers, such as serpents, rodents, peacocks, and small pigs. They are crucial for maintaining ecosystem balance. When the jackal population decreases, it signals a collapse in the ecosystem’s equilibrium. Simultaneously, we have observed a sharp rise in the peacock population,” Professor Seneviratne said.

The proliferation of peacocks in the wet zone is a relatively recent phenomenon, he explained, as jackals had previously kept their population in check, restricting them to the dry zone. “Peacock eggs are vulnerable to predators, but adult peacocks have no natural enemies. Jackals would eat their eggs and young, preventing overpopulation. With the decline in jackal numbers, the peacock population has exploded,” he said.

Chamikara said that understanding the current ecological and agricultural crisis requires examining Sri Lanka’s forest cover history. Historical records indicate that in 1881, Sri Lanka’s forest cover was approximately 84 percent of its total land area. By 1900, this had fallen to 70 percent, largely due to the rapid clearing of wet zone forests for coffee and tea plantations. A forest survey conducted between 1956 and 1961 revealed a further reduction, with forest cover down to 44.2 percent (roughly 2.9 million hectares).

The second forest survey, conducted between 1982 and 1985 under the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), indicated that forest cover had declined to 37.5 percent (2.46 million hectares). By 1992, analyses by C. Legg and N. Jewell revealed a further decrease to 31.2 percent (2.04 million hectares). This trend continued, with forest cover reaching 29.6 percent (1.94 million hectares) by 1996 and 29.7 per cent (1.95 million hectares) by 2010.

“Between 1960 and 2010, Sri Lanka lost 947,370 hectares of forest,” Chamikara said. “In the past 14 years, extensive deforestation has been driven by ill-conceived national development plans. Large-scale projects, such as the Yan Oya Irrigation Scheme (15,000 acres), the Moragahakanda and Kaluganga Multipurpose Irrigation Projects (25,000 acres), and infrastructure developments in Hambantota—including the Magampura Port, Mattala Airport, and the Southern Expressway—have collectively cleared over 25,000 acres of forests. Additionally, post-war resettlement and unregulated land use for tourism, development projects, and high-security zones have led to the clearance of approximately 17,800 acres of forest. The ongoing Lower Malwathu Oya Irrigation Project has resulted in another 10,000 acres being cleared.”

Chamikara added that government agencies, such as the Forest Department and the Mahaweli Authority, have allocated significant forest tracts to commercial enterprises and agribusinesses, further diminishing wildlife habitats and increasing encroachments into farmlands.

According to Chinthaka Rajapakshe, moderator of MONLAR, the roots of Sri Lanka’s commercial agriculture date back to the British colonial era, beginning with coffee cultivation. Although the Dutch had experimented with coffee in 1740, large-scale plantations were established by the British in 1833. By 1860, Sri Lanka was a leading coffee producer, with plantations covering 275,000 acres by 1870. However, coffee crops were devastated by fungal diseases, leading to the rise of tea cultivation in 1867.

“Today, tea plantations span 221,969 hectares, significantly encroaching upon upland and lowland wet forests. Rubber cultivation followed, beginning in 1876 in Gampaha, and now extends across 133,668 hectares. Other commercial crops, such as sugarcane and maize, have expanded rapidly, often replacing traditional mixed-crop systems, reducing biodiversity, and displacing wildlife,” Rajapakshe said.

Smallholder farmers have faced numerous challenges due to the expansion of large-scale commercial agriculture. These include dependency on agrochemical and seed companies, water scarcity, displacement through land-use policies favouring corporate interests, post-harvest losses, and difficulties in marketing produce. Additionally, farmers grapple with fluctuating crop prices, exploitation by market monopolies, and competition from imported goods.

“While wildlife conflicts are an issue, they represent only a fraction of the systemic challenges affecting agriculture. Sustainable agricultural solutions must address these underlying causes rather than focusing solely on wildlife as pests. Destroying wildlife is not a sustainable solution. Instead, we must acknowledge their ecological importance and adopt biodiversity-focused strategies. A shift from a human-centric perspective to an ecologically balanced approach is essential for ensuring the coexistence of humans and wildlife while fostering sustainable farming practices,” he said.

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News

INS Airavat makes port call in Colombo

Published

7 hours ago

2026/06/4

Priyan

The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Airavat arrived at the Port of Colombo for Operational Turnaround on 01 Jun 26. The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in compliance with time-noured naval traditions.

INS Airavat is a Landing Ship Tank, commanded by Commander IP Patil.

During their stay in the island, the ship’s crew is scheduled to take part in a series of professionally enriching events and camaraderie-building programmes organised by the Sri Lanka Navy.

The Indian naval personnel will also tour several historic and prominent tourist attractions across the country before the ship concludes her deployment.

News

BASL asks govt. to abandon plan to raise retirement ages of CA and SC judges

Published

12 hours ago

2026/06/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

… tells Prez such arbitrary change neither necessary nor desirable

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to abandon the controversial plan to increase the retirement age of the judiciary, including the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

In a statement issued by the BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya and its Secretary Nalin de Silva, the BASL pointed out that the proposed increase of the retirement age of the judiciary would undermine the independence, integrity, dignity, and public confidence in the Judiciary, which is essential for the maintenance of the Rule of Law and democratic governance in Sri Lanka.

The text of the BASL statement: “The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (hereinafter referred to as “BASL”) notes with grave concern reports in the public domain that the Government is considering the introduction of an amendment to the Constitution to increase the age of retirement of Judges of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

It is the considered view of the BASL that the age of retirement of the judges of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court which has stood at 63 years and 65 years respectively from the promulgation of the 1978 Constitution, should not be changed arbitrarily and that such a change is neither necessary nor desirable.

To do so will result in the loss of public confidence in the integrity of the legal system and of the Government’s commitment to preserve and protect the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. Members of the public are likely to question the motives of the Government in bringing in a Constitutional amendment solely for this purpose.

Your Excellency is no doubt aware that the cadre of the Judges of the Court of Appeal was increased from 12 to 20 Judges (including the President of the Court of Appeal) and that of the Supreme Court from 11 to 17 Judges (including the Chief Justice) by the 20th Amendment to the constitution certified on 29th of October 2020. With such enhancement, workwise, there cannot be a real requirement to extend the retirement ages of these judges.

Your Excellency is aware that altering the retirement age of judges of the apex courts would have to be done through a Constitutional amendment. For many years Sri Lanka’s Constitution has been subject to ad hoc amendments, sometimes in order to cater to the political needs of the government in power and often contrary to the interests of the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and the judiciary.

Extending the retirement age of the sitting Judges of these Courts at this point of time is likely to be viewed by the public as a blatant attempt to interfere with the judiciary. We believe that to go ahead with such an ad hoc move will also be an affront to the Honourable Judges of those courts.

If the Government goes ahead with such a move it will set a dangerous precedent for future Governments too to introduce ad hoc amendments to the Constitution in respect of the functions of the Judiciary.

The independence of the Judiciary and the public confidence reposed in it, are indispensable pillars of the Rule of Law and the democratic framework of our Republic. In that regard, it is of paramount importance that the Judiciary must not only remain independent in fact, but must also be seen by the public to be wholly independent, impartial, and free from even the slightest perception of influence, favour, accommodation, or impropriety.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka is therefore constrained, in the discharge of its duty to uphold and safeguard the Rule of Law and the independence of the Judiciary, to respectfully express its serious concern regarding any such proposed amendment, which is neither in the interests of the Judiciary and nor of the people.

In the circumstances, the BASL respectfully urges Your Excellency not to proceed with any proposed constitutional amendment seeking to increase the retirement age of the members of the Judiciary including Judges of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

We remain confident that Your Excellency will give due consideration to the importance of preserving and protecting the independence, integrity, dignity, and public confidence in the Judiciary, which is essential to the maintenance of the Rule of Law and democratic governance in Sri Lanka.”

Govt. declines to respond

A member of the Cabinet yesterday declined to comment on the BASL’s letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The Minister said that he wouldn’t comment for the time being.

News

New US tariffs proposed on 60 countries, including Sri Lanka

Published

12 hours ago

2026/06/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

12.5% additional duties on goods imported from Colombo

The US has proposed additional duties of 10% or 12.5% on imports from 60 economies, including Sri Lanka, over their alleged failure to curb trade in ‌goods made with forced labour.

The proposal made by US Trade Representative’s (USTR) office in terms of Section 301 unfair trade practices investigation to be released, news agencies reported, pointing out that the Trump administration was seeking to rebuild its emergency tariffs, which were struck down by a US Supreme Court decision in February.

The USTR said it determined that it would impose 10% duties related to ⁠the forced labour investigation on imports from Canada, Ecuador, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Britain.

The trade agency said it would impose additional duties of 12.5% on the remaining 45 countries that were investigated.

“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labour is unacceptable,” US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement. “This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field.”

According to the trade agency, the USTR found that Sri Lanka has failed to impose and effectively enforce a forced labour import prohibition.

The USTR noted that the results of its investigation indicate that the acts, policies and practices of Sri Lanka related to the failure to impose and effectively enforce a forced labour import prohibition are unreasonable and burden or restrict US commerce.

Accordingly, it has proposed to impose 12.5% additional duties on goods imported from Sri Lanka.

The USTR said it also was proposing a textile mechanism that would allow for a certain volume of apparel and textile imports ‌to ⁠enter the US at a reduced tariff rate, though the duties and volumes were not disclosed.

The announcement comes ahead of the July 24 expiration of a 10% temporary tariff imposed by the Trump administration on February 20, the day the Supreme Court struck down US President Donald Trump’s tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

On Monday, the USTR proposed ⁠a 25% duty on many Brazilian goods as a result of a Section 301 investigation into the country’s digital trade practices and preferential tariffs. The trade agency is also expected to soon unveil the findings of another major Section 301 probe into ⁠the buildup of excess industrial capacity in 16 trading partners, including China.

In the forced labour findings, the USTR said it would exempt from the tariffs a number of products, including energy, rare earths and certain ⁠other metals, beef, coffee, certain fruits and vegetables, pharmaceuticals, organic chemicals and aircraft parts.

The USTR said it would accept public comments on the proposed tariffs and other remedies through July 6, with a public hearing scheduled for July 7.