News
More Wildlife Range Offices and vets to tackle frequent leopard attacks
By Ifham Nizam
Plans are underway to establish new Range Offices and station Veterinary Surgeons, in the Wet Zone, particularly targeting Adam’s Peak and Nallathaniya, where leopard attacks are taking place frequently- the Wildlife Conservation Department said yesterday, following an attack on a veterinarian by a leopard a few days back.
A Department spokesman told The Island that it was not a serious attack and all officers were covered under a government insurance scheme and the officer would be entitled to relevant compensation for it.
Speaking to journalists, Wildlife veterinarian Dr. Malaka Abeywardana considered himself lucky, after he was attacked by an injured leopard.
Abeywardana had been attending to a leopard, trapped in a snare, inside the Yala National Park, when he was attacked by the animal he was treating.
“We tried to tranquilize the leopard. At once, it broke off the snare and jumped at me. This all took place in a matter of seconds. After attacking me, the leopard ran back in to the jungle,” adding that it was not the first time that he had a brush with death, involving a wild animal.
Leopard expert, researcher Rajika Gamage termed the attack as a minor accident.
He also said that only 20 percent of the leopard deaths reported, though some claim that the deadly improvised explosive device hakka patas is not used as earlier. He believes that when it is used on a large scale one also sees the deaths of many wild boars, in the up country.
News
Establishment of an Institutional Framework to Inagurate Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority
Policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 08.06.2026 to establish the Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority for identification and
execution of a formal and long – lasting remedy to secure the central hills including the upper hydro catchment areas enabling them to sustain amidst extreme weather conditions
due to natural calamities and human activities as well as to be used for the sustainable development of the country.
Accordingly, a concept paper has been prepared including
institutional structure, activities, powers, active subject area as well as administrative and coordination mechanism for the proposed authority by an expert technical committee appointed by the Secretary to the President.
Based on the said concept paper, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill including legal provisions required for the establishment of Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority.
News
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
With the objective of securing the traditional livelihood and the eco system of the indigenous community, it has been recognized the necessity of introducing a formal regulation methodology to secure their engagement in livelihood activities by being more sensitive to the existing laws.
Thereby, the Fauna and Flora (regularizing) regulations under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Authority 469) have been prepared so that nominated activities within the prescribed area to a member of the indigenous community
who has been registered for securing the rights acquired from law or custom or usage or traditional stance to execute an act within a certain state land that is fundamental to the survival of the indigenous community permission can be granted
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the said regulations in the government gazette notification and thereby submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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M. M. D. J. Senarathne, appointed Director General of the Department of National Botanical Gardens
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to appoint M. M. D. J. Senarathne, who is the senior most officer in Grade I of Sri Lanka Scientific Service se
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