News

Govt foot dragging on implementing solution to Human-elephant conflict

Published

4 years ago

2022/04/10

by Ifham Nizam

The government is still foot dragging on implementing a solution to the Human-elephant conflict (HEC) although there is a comprehensive action plan in hand, says one of the policy makers and a researcher on Sri Lankan elephants.Biodiversity Conservation and Research Circle Convener, Supun Lahiru Prakash, told the Sunday Island that after deciding to stop digging trenches as a preventive measure, the Secretary to the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation stated that the ministry will develop and implement appropriate measures to control this problem in accordance with international standards and locally identified strategies as well as strategies to be identified.”Therefore, it is clear that the government is still wasting time while hundreds of human and elephant lives are being lost each year,” says Prakash.The National Action Plan for the Mitigation of Human-Elephant Conflict prepared under the direction of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was pigeonholed by the authorities for more than a year now, he said.The Action plan has been prepared by a multi-stakeholder committee chaired by eminent Asian Elephant researcher and expert, Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando, and handed over to the government on December 17, 2020.

“After more than a year, nothing has been done as recommended there while the problem grows countrywide. The Secretary does not even have a sense of the action plan and he says that they will develop and implement appropriate measures in the future. This is nonsense.”I should highlight that while the authorities sat on this plan 375 elephants and 142 humans were killed during 2021,” he added.”Officials need to understand that HEC mitigation should be an integrated effort that is beneficial for both humans and elephants because both must be protected. Different actors have different roles to play to make this effort a success. Without considering this reality the authorities rely on physical barriers in order to mitigate the conflict.”Firstly they erected electric fences wasting billions of rupees. Then they tried to dig trenches as an alternative. We have evidence many of these efforts are useless. Wildlife conservation and management as well as human-wildlife conflict management is a scientific matter but all this is above the heads of the concerned authorities including the Department of Wildlife Conservation. That is why they repeat the same mistakes and waste public funds.”The researcher strongly believes that if the lessons of the past have been properly learned, it could be easily realized that physical barriers are unable to confine bull elephants to the assigned area and they manage to cross these barriers one way or another.Some of these bull elephants are the problem and they endanger human life and property. It is clear that these trenches are unable to address the problem. They confine herds of females and calves to a part of their home range, depleting the food supply and eventually starving them. This weakens the national conservation effort.

The President has received a good action plan prepared by a group of experts in the field who believe that it will be able to minimize the conflict significantly.It has short, medium, and long term recommendations that can convert conflict to co-existence. However, the authorities have not even looked at it so far and it has been set aside for more than one year. What is being attempted is a mere waste of public money.”Our studies found that this is a huge socio-economic problem affecting the public in more than 130 Divisional Secretariat divisions in 19 districts of Sri Lanka. I think the general public should understand this reality and present a common front against these useless attempts to combat the problem,” he added.

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Heat index likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Eastern provinces and Monaragala district

Published

8 hours ago

2026/04/12

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 3.30 p.m. on 11 April 2026, valid for 12 April 2026

The Heat index, the temperature felt on the human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Eastern provinces and Monaragala district.

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.

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Sun directly overhead Cheddikulam, Kebithigollewa, Gomarankadawala and Nilaveli about 12:11 noon. today [12]

Published

8 hours ago

2026/04/12

Priyan

On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 05th to 15th of April in this year.

The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (12th) are Cheddikulam, Kebithigollewa, Gomarankadawala and Nilaveli about 12:11 noon.

News

CEB orders temporary shutdown of large rooftop solar systems

Published

8 hours ago

2026/04/12

Thilina Walpola

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has directed owners of large-scale rooftop solar systems to temporarily disconnect their installations for a 10-day period beginning from Friday (April 10), citing growing concerns over grid stability amid low electricity demand and high solar generation.

The directive applies to rooftop solar systems exceeding 300 kW capacity, which are required to remain switched off until April 20. The move coincides with the extended holiday season, during which national electricity demand typically declines, alongside prevailing sunny weather conditions that significantly increase solar output.

Senior electrical engineers told The Island that the decision, though exceptional, was necessitated by operational risks posed to the national grid.

“We are seeing a pronounced imbalance between supply and demand,” a senior CEB system control engineer said. “With industries and commercial establishments operating at reduced levels during the holidays, demand drops. At the same time, solar generation remains high, creating excess power that the grid struggles to absorb.”

He explained that such imbalances could lead to fluctuations in system frequency, potentially threatening the stability of the grid. “If generation exceeds demand, frequency rises beyond acceptable limits.

This can trigger automatic protection mechanisms or, in extreme cases, lead to partial outages.”Another senior engineer attached to the transmission division noted that managing distributed solar generation remains a technical challenge.

“Unlike conventional power plants, rooftop solar systems are not centrally dispatchable. We cannot directly control their output in real time. This limits our ability to balance the system during periods of excess generation,” he said.

He added that the country’s grid infrastructure is still adapting to the rapid growth of renewable energy. “We lack sufficient large-scale battery storage and advanced grid management systems to effectively handle these fluctuations. Until such capabilities are enhanced, temporary curtailment becomes necessary.”

Engineers also pointed out that conventional thermal plants cannot be abruptly shut down or adjusted to compensate for sudden surges in solar generation.

“These plants require minimum stable operating levels. When solar floods the grid during low demand, it creates operational constraints that are not easy to manage,” one official said.

The CEB, in its statement, expressed appreciation for the cooperation of solar system owners affected by the measure, stressing that it is a short-term intervention aimed at ensuring uninterrupted and stable electricity supply across the country.

Energy experts say the development underscores the urgent need for grid modernization, including investment in battery energy storage systems, smart grid technologies, and improved demand-side management.

“This is part of the transition challenge,” an independent analyst noted. “As solar penetration increases, the grid must evolve to become more flexible. Otherwise, curtailment will remain a recurring necessity.”

Despite the temporary shutdown, CEB engineers reaffirmed their commitment to expanding renewable energy.

“Solar power is a key pillar of Sri Lanka’s future energy mix,” a senior engineer said. “But integration must be carefully managed. Grid stability cannot be compromised.”

The temporary disconnection order, which took effect yesterday, marks a critical moment in Sri Lanka’s energy transition—highlighting both the progress made in renewable energy adoption and the technical hurdles that remain.

By Ifham Nizam