Over Rs. 25 million compensation paid this year to people of Northwestern
Province for damages by elephants (Sri Lanka)
ColomboPage
September 16, 2023
Over Rs. 25 million have been paid as compensation to the people of the
Northwestern Province for damages by wild elephants in the last eight
months.
In the 8 months from January to August 2023, there were 14 human deaths due
to wild elephants in Kurunegala district and Rs. 17,319,178 have been paid
as compensation for the deaths and property damage.
Meanwhile, in Puttalam district there were five human deaths and Rs.
8,793,095 have been paid for the deaths and property damage during the last
eight months.
During a discussion held on the wildlife problems and sustainable solutions
held Thursday at the Northwestern Provincial Council, it was revealed that
an amount of Rs. 26,112,273 have been paid for the damages caused by wild
elephants in the Northwestern Province alone.
This discussion was held with the participation of Minister of Forest
Conservation and Wildlife Pavithra Wanniarachchi, as per the request of
Northwestern Province Governor Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena.
According to the information revealed, 14 human deaths and 180 property
damages were reported in the Kurunegala district in the last eight months.
In 2022, 45 human deaths and 150 property damages were reported and around
1.3 million rupees in damages have been paid.
Presenting facts in this regard, Mr. Shantha Weerasinghe, Assistant
Director of Kurunegala District Wildlife Department, said that more damage
is caused by wild elephants moving to populated areas than in previous
years.
The representatives of farmers' organizations in Galigamuwa, Puttalam,
Navagathagama, Wanathawilluwa and Anamaduwa areas requested to provide
solutions to the problems they are facing due to wild elephants in the area.
Short-term, medium-term and long-term solutions to reduce elephant-human
conflict and for wildlife conservation were presented at the discussion and
the Minister of Forest Conservation and Wildlife Pavithra Wanniarachchi and
the Governor said that they will take necessary steps to implement those
solutions soon.
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