News
President appoints committee to facilitate and oversee implementation of National Action Plan to mitigate human-elephant conflict
Text and Pictures by PRIYAN DE SILVA
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a Presidential Committee, headed by former Director General of Wildlife Conservation, Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya, to monitor the progress of the implementation of the National Action Plan for Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation.
The National Action Plan for Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation was drawn up by a Presidential Task Force, appointed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, which was headed by Dr Pruthuviraj Fernando of which Dr. Pilapitiya was a member. After much consultation with all stake holders, including the public, the final action plan was handed over to the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and no further action was taken until President Wickremesinghe took the initiative to implement it.
The other members of the PC, appointed by President Wickremesinghe to facilitate and oversee implementation of National Action Plan to Mitigate Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC), are Dr. Pruthuviraj Fernando (Chairman Centre of Conservation and Research and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force appointed to draw up the National Action Plan for Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation), W.M.A.P.B. Wanninayake (Additional Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government), H.D. Ratnayake (Additional Director, Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation), Chandrika V. Athugala (Additional Secretary, Ministry of Irrigation), R.M.R. Rathnayaka (District Secretary, Kurunegala), Janaka Jayasundera (District Secretary, Anuradapura), A.H.M.L. Abeyrathne (Commissioner General, Department of Agrarian Development), Chandana Sooriyabandara (Director General Department of Wildlife Conservation),
Dr. K.M.A. Bandara (Conservator General of Forests), Eng. K.D.N. Siriwardena (Director General of Irrigation), Keerthi Kotagama (Director General of Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka), S.A.B. Herath (Director General in the Office of the Chief of Staff, Presidential Secretariat), and Malkanthi Rajapaksa, Senior Assistant Secretary to the President have been appointed as the Secretary to the Committee.
In Sri Lanka over 300 elephants die due to HEC each year while the number of humans that are killed by elephants averages around 100.
It was reported that HEC in Sri Lanka was at its highest in 2019 with 405 elephants and 121 humans losing their lives. The corresponding figures for 2020 was 318 elephants and 112 humans.
According to statistics obtained from the Centre for Conservation and Research (CCR) between the period 2010 to 2019 14,516 incidents of Human Elephant Conflict had been reported. During which time 2631 elephants had been killed by humans and 807 humans had been killed by elephants while another 579 more had been injured. 10,532 incidents of property damage had also been reported.
The People of Myanmar are facing immense hardships caused by the devastating earthquake on 28th March and as reported by the international media reports the death toll is over 2,700. Furthermore, it has been reported that many people are missing while, a large number of individuals have been injured and are receiving treatment.
Considering the long – term close relationship between the two nations as two Buddhist states, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to provide,
• A sum of United States Dollars One Million
• Transportation for the dry rations collected by Buddhist clergy and other donors
• To have a group of medical officers and health staff on standby for immediate departure to Myanmar if necessary
Latest News
Cabinet appoints ministerial committee to submit report on sanctions imposed on 04 Sri Lankans by the United Kingdom
Attention of the Cabinet of Ministers have been drawn on the decisions taken by the United Kingdom to impose sanctions on four Sri Lankan individuals recently, and have decided to appoint a committee comprised of three ministers to submit a report with recommendations on the further measures to be taken after studying the facts in the regard and to empower the committee to obtain the service of any officer/intellect deemed to have subject expertise in the relevant field and considered essential.
The committee will comprise of :
– Vijitha Herath Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism
– Attorney – at – Law Harshana Nanayakkara Minister of Justice and National Integrity
– Aruna Jayasekara Deputy Minister of Defence
News
Revised Aswasuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme to be submitted for the concurrence of the Parliament.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 17.03.2025 to amend the Aswasuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme by increasing the value of the benefits already being payed under the scheme.
The revised Aswasuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme has been published by the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2429/02 dated 24.03.2025.
Accordingly, he Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Policy Plannng and Economic Development to submit the said revised Aswasuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Cabinet approves providing relief to the people of Myanmar
Cabinet appoints ministerial committee to submit report on sanctions imposed on 04 Sri Lankans by the United Kingdom
Revised Aswasuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme to be submitted for the concurrence of the Parliament.
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