Environmental coalition calls for UN probe into Sri Lanka’s wildlife protection violations

• The organizations have reported to the UN that the government is acting contrary to natural scientific methods to suppress wild animals

By Indika Sri Aravinda  

A coalition of environmental organizations has complained to the United Nations in Sri Lanka that the government is taking steps to kill wild animals in violation of the Wildlife Act.  

The environmental organizations have reported to the UN that the government is acting contrary to natural scientific methods to suppress wild animals.   

Accordingly, the coalition has lodged complaints against the Ministry of Environment, the Department of Wildlife, the Department of Railways, the Electricity Board, as well as the District Secretariats and Divisional Secretariats.   

A written notice has been sent to the head of the United Nations Environment Programme, urging an investigation into this matter and drawing the government’s attention to the need for protecting the balance of the environment.   

Priyantha Herath, the Media Coordinator of the All Environmental Organizations Coalition, stated that it has been reported that the government has officially granted certain legal powers to the farming community to kill animals following a recent statement by Agriculture Minister Lalkantha. As a result, measures have also been taken to poison and kill wild animals in specific areas.   

Mr. Herath further emphasized that the Ministry of Environment has granted permission for land clearing, leading to significant habitat loss for wild animals. Additionally, he noted that the Wildlife Department is violating the Wildlife Protection Act. The Railways Department is operating trains at high speeds through elephant crossing areas, causing wild elephants to die in collisions, the Electricity Board is failing to conduct adequate investigations into the installation of electric wires in agricultural fields, which has resulted in the deaths of elephants and other animals, and the District Secretariats and Divisional Secretariats are permitting farmers to distribute gunpowder indiscriminately and are preparing explosive devices such as Hakka Patas.   

Mr. Herath also mentioned that steps will be taken to inform all foreign embassies in the country regarding these issues within the next week, and that a complaint will be filed with the World Human Rights Organization in Geneva.