News
Environmentalists sound warning ‘Mahaweli bid to reduce size of EMZ will worsen human-jumbo conflict’
Pro-govt. racketeers engaged in illegal activities with impunity
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The Mahaweli Authority has insisted 5,750 acres be removed from the proposed Hambantota Elephant Management Zone (EMZ) and if the Authority is allowed to have its way the human-elephant conflict and the water shortage in the area will worsen, environmentalists warn.
Environmental activist Sajeewa Chamikara said yesterday the undue delay in declaring EMZ was mainly due to obstacles placed by the Mahaweli Authority.
“The plan to create this reserve was prepared in 2010 and approval granted in 2011. However, powerful ministers of both the Rajapaksa and yahapalana governments prevented the implementation of the plan. The same people are behind a large number of illegal soil and granite extraction sites in the area earmarked for the reserve. These racketeers have the support of politicians in the SLPP and the SJB and Mahaweli Authority officials.”
Chamikara said that the Mahaweli Authority had allowed big businessmen to pump water to their illegal cultivations inside the area within the proposed EMZ, and as a result small-scale farmers were facing a severe water shortage, he said. “The farmers of Hambantota who have been protesting for nearly 100 days, will continue with their agitation until the gazette notification declaring the Wild Elephant Management Reserve in Hambantota is published”, the environmental activist said.
“Due to the continuous protests by farmers the Mahaweli Authority now has agreed to the EMZ, but it still insists that 5750 acres be removed from the EMZ and this extent includes forest area in Usgala, Andarawewa from the EMZ. This forest area is an important catchment for many of the tanks and used by elephants to enter the Andarawewa forest. If the EMZ does not encompass this particular area the human-elephant conflict in the area will take a turn for the worse, and the water shortage will become more acute.”
The Cabinet in February approved a proposal by the Minister of Environment to declare a 23,746-hectare elephant reserve subsequent to obtaining the Legal Draughtsman’s consent for publishing the gazette at issue.
Chamikara added that according to the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, the Minister of Environment could declare a protected area. Given that, the government’s move was a clear diversionary tactic, he said. Chamikara said that the government had not obtained Cabinet approval for expanding the road to Lankagama in Sinharaja or parcel out land in Kandakadu, Dahaiyagala, and Somawathiya.
“Farmers know this and that’s why they will go on with their struggle until the gazette is actually printed. More than 156 farmer organisations and a number of trade unions have joined the struggle of the Hambantota farmers.
News
Submission of Revenue Protection Order Prepared under the Provisions of the Revenue Protection Act No. 19 of 1962 to the Parliament for its approval.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was given at the meeting held on 23.02.2026 to impose the custom import duty amounts under four (04) categories as 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% which had been executed only under three (03) categories in order to increase the target export income of the country, to execute the
recommendations of the national customs duty policies committee, and to implement new national sub division customs codes for promoting the local agricultural and industrial sector.
Imposing provisions in relation to the above, the Revenue Protection Order – No. 01/2026 under the Revenue Protection Act No. 19 of 1962 has been published in the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2478/03 of 03.03.2026.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to submit the said revenue protection order to Parliament for its concurrence.
News
Resettlement of unauthorized settlers affected by the Land Acquisition process for the implementation of Phase III of the Baseline Road Extension Project
A committee chaired by the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretary has been appointed to provide housing for unauthorised settlers displaced due to the land acquisition process required for the implementation of Phase III of the Baseline Road Extension Project.
Based on the recommendations submitted by the said committee, housing units have already been allocated to 29 displaced family units from the ‘Sarasavi Uyana’ housing scheme, which is implemented by the Urban Development Authority.
Taking into account unique grievances and specific circumstances identified during field inquiries—such as instances where the floor area of the lost residence exceeds that of the newly allocated housing unit, multiple sub-families live
together within a single household at the time of land acquisition, or the presence of unmarried individuals with special needs—the committee has further recommended the allocation of housing units to an additional 08 displaced residents over and above the initial 29 family units.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban
Development to implement the recommendations of the said committee.
News
Cabinet approves project to modernize school hostel facilities during the 2026–2028 period at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,008 million
Among the school hostels in the country, 126 hostel buildings are in an aged condition, with maintenance and renovation work remaining at a minimal level.
Consequently, it has been observed that constraints in the physical, sanitary, health, and safety facilities of these school hostels adversely affect the living standards and academic performance of the resident students.
Therefore, the necessity to modernize the essential facilities of these hostels has been recognized to foster a qualitative environment conducive to the students’ education and well-being.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Prime Minister, in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, to implement a project to modernize school hostel facilities during the 2026–2028 period at an estimated total cost of Rs. 1,008 million.
Submission of Revenue Protection Order Prepared under the Provisions of the Revenue Protection Act No. 19 of 1962 to the Parliament for its approval.
Resettlement of unauthorized settlers affected by the Land Acquisition process for the implementation of Phase III of the Baseline Road Extension Project
Cabinet approves project to modernize school hostel facilities during the 2026–2028 period at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,008 million
New National Action Plan for Human-Elephant Conflict Management to be drafted
Cabinet green light to host 21st Steering Committee Meeting of the Cooperative Aviation Security Programme – Asia Pacific and the 14th Regional Aviation Security Coordination Forum – Asia and Pacific Regions from 23 – 26 June in Sri Lanka
Committee to examine the feasibility of operating all functions related to the Employees’ Provident Fund and the Employees’ Trust Fund under an integrated governance framework
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