News
Centre for Environmental Justice raises concerns over unscientific wildlife management practices
By Ifham Nizam
The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), under the leadership of its Chairman Hemantha Withanage, has strongly criticized the ongoing unscientific and ad-hoc practices in wildlife management across Sri Lanka. The CEJ has called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the government to take immediate action to halt these practices, which they argue are not only harmful to wildlife but also exacerbate human-wildlife conflicts.
In a detailed letter addressed to the President, Withanage outlined several alarming developments.
These include the unregulated capture and relocation of elephants and other wildlife, carried out without consultation with the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) or adherence to scientific guidelines. He alleged that these operations, often backed by political figures and local influencers, have led to the displacement and deaths of animals while placing rural communities at further risk.
The CEJ highlighted that numerous relocation efforts are being conducted without the involvement of qualified Wildlife officials. “We have received credible reports that unauthorized groups, including unqualified veterinary personnel, are capturing and relocating elephants,” Withanage stated. Such actions, he noted, not only violate wildlife laws but also disrupt ecological balance.
Citing examples such as the Hambantota Elephant Management Reserve,
Withanage emphasized that lands allocated for wildlife are being encroached upon for commercial activities. He further accused political actors of exploiting these issues for short-term gains, undermining the government’s national environmental policy.
Legal Battles and Conservation Efforts
The CEJ, along with other environmental organizations, has pursued legal action to address these concerns. Notably, the organization filed a Supreme Court case (SCFR 301/24) to protect the Hambantota Elephant Management Reserve, highlighting its mismanagement and encroachment. Additionally, ongoing cases, such as the CA WRIT 186/23, focus on preventing deforestation in areas critical for wildlife.
Call for National-Level Coordination
Withanage called for an immediate halt to all unscientific and unauthorized wildlife management activities. He urged the establishment of a high-level committee involving experts, government officials, and environmentalists to develop a science-based, inclusive approach to human-wildlife conflict resolution.
“We need policies grounded in scientific research and input from qualified professionals, not influenced by political expediency,” he remarked. The CEJ also proposed integrating advanced agricultural practices to reduce dependency on vast forest lands, a move that could alleviate pressure on wildlife habitats.
Government’s Environmental Commitments
Recalling President Dissanayake’s earlier commitments to environmental sustainability, Withanage expressed disappointment at the current state of affairs. “The ad-hoc measures being implemented are in direct contradiction to the government’s stated environmental policies,” he said.
Looking Ahead The CEJ’s plea comes at a crucial time when human-wildlife conflicts are escalating due to habitat loss and unregulated land use. The organization’s proposals, including reviving traditional elephant corridors and enhancing coordination between relevant ministries, offer a pathway toward sustainable solutions.
Withanage concluded, “The government must take immediate steps to ensure the rights of wildlife and the safety of communities are protected. This is not just an environmental issue; it’s a matter of national interest.”
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with a delegation from the UNICEF on Friday (June 12) at Temple Trees to discuss ongoing efforts to support the recovery of the education sector following the impact of Cyclone Ditwah.
Discussions focused on the implementation of activities outlined in the report titled “Cyclone Ditwah Education Emergency Response Plan: Phase 1 Progress Updates (January–April 2026).” The meeting provided an opportunity to review the progress achieved during the initial phase of the response and to discuss future interventions aimed at supporting children and schools affected by the disaster.
The Prime Minister and the UNICEF delegation also exchanged views on strengthening collaboration to ensure the continuity of education and the well-being of affected children.
The UNICEF delegation included Emma Brigham, UNICEF Representative, Begona Arellano, Deputy Representative, and other UNICEF officials.
(Prime Minister’s Media Division)
Can a country put a fixed limit on its population? That is the question Switzerland will be answering on Sunday when voters go the polls to decide on a proposal to cap their population at 10 million, a move that has exposed divisions about immigration in the Alpine nation.
The move is backed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, which describes it as a “sustainability initiative” aimed at easing pressure on housing, public services and the environment. However some voters see this as the party’s latest anti-immigration move.
Dubbing it a “chaos initiative”, the government, other political parties, business leaders and trade unions argue it will deprive hospitals and hotels of much needed staff, and damage hard-won relations with the European Union, leaving non-EU member Switzerland isolated in a very risky world.
Switzerland’s population has grown rapidly since 2002, when it stood at 7.3 million. Now it is 9.1 million, 27% of whom are Swiss residents who were born abroad.
Switzerland’s system of direct democracy means all major decisions are taken via the ballot box. Campaigners simply have to gather 100,000 signatures to ensure a nationwide vote.
Many voters are concerned by overcrowded trains, expensive apartments and rising health costs.
The latest opinion polls indicate this could be a very close vote.
They suggest voters are inching towards a no vote by a wafer thin margin, with 52% opposed – but polls remain divided, with 45% saying they are in favour of the proposal and a significant number of voters still undecided.
[BBC]
Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate, Siyapath Sasindu Wickramaratne, on Friday (12) ordered former Atamasthanadhipathi Pallegama Hemarathana Thera, who stands accused in a case involving the alleged serious sexual abuse of a minor girl, to provide a blood sample for DNA testing.
Accordingly, the court directed the suspect monk to appear before the Government Analyst’s Department on June 16 and provide a blood sample to the Government Analyst.
The order was issued after considering a further report submitted to court by the Nittambuwa Police.
Police informed the court that, pursuant to an earlier court order, certain case material had been forwarded to the Government Analyst on May 4, 2026, for DNA examination.
According to police, the material consisted of clothing allegedly stained with blood, which had been buried and concealed by the girl and later recovered during investigations.
Police further informed the court that the Government Analyst’s report had confirmed the presence of DNA evidence on the clothing.
Investigators told court that it was necessary to obtain a biological sample from the suspect monk in order to compare it with the DNA evidence recovered from the garments.
Police therefore requested an order compelling the suspect to provide a blood sample so that it could be determined whether the DNA evidence found on the girl’s clothing matched that of the suspect.
Having considered the submissions, the Magistrate ordered the suspect monk to provide the blood sample. The court also directed the Government Analyst to submit the report of the subsequent DNA examination.Pallegama Hemarathana Thera was previously remanded in connection with the case and was later released on stringent bail conditions.
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