Govt steps up action on Ratnapura land, elephant conflict

Colombo, July 15 (Daily Mirror) - The government has pledged to expedite solutions to long-standing land issues in the Kalthota and Weligepola divisions of Ratnapura District while introducing new measures to reduce human-elephant conflict in the area.

A special discussion chaired by Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi was held yesterday (14) at the Balangoda Samanala Wewa Hydroelectric Power Plant auditorium with the participation of government officials, local authorities and residents.

Ratnapura District MP Sunil Rajapaksa, Forest Conservation Department Director General P.S.C. Palakumbura, Wildlife Department Director of Operations U.L. Thaufeeq, Divisional Secretaries and officials from several government institutions also attended the meeting.

Residents directly raised concerns over land ownership, boundary disputes and fencing of lands managed by the Forest Conservation and Wildlife Departments. Officials discussed possible solutions to issues involving the Itthagalayaya Wildlife Department lands and the proposed Wewelkanduruara tank under the Forest Conservation Department.

The discussion also focused on granting access for tourists to the Lunumadilla Waterfall Complex, while ensuring environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.

As part of efforts to mitigate human-elephant conflict, proposals were discussed to restore the Welimada embankment, which officials believe could help reduce elephant incursions into nearby villages. Residents highlighted the severe impact of elephant raids on farming activities, property and daily life.

Authorities also considered measures to ease legal restrictions faced by dairy farmers in accessing wild grass needed for livestock and to improve infrastructure supporting agriculture and livestock industries without compromising environmental conservation.

Following the meeting, the Environment Minister and officials inspected areas in Itthagalayaya, Handagiriya and Kapugala, which are frequently affected by human-elephant conflict.

Officials assessed whether nearby forest conservation lands could be used as safer alternative locations for around 60 families living on approximately 160 acres in the isolated settlement.

The delegation also inspected the proposed Wewelkanduruara tank, which is intended to provide a reliable water source for wild elephants in a bid to reduce their movement into villages.

During the visit, Dr. Patabendi also declared open a new wildlife observation post in the Handagirigoda Grama Niladhari Division of the Weligepola Divisional Secretariat. The monitoring post is expected to strengthen surveillance and support efforts to minimise human-elephant conflict in the area.