Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister A.H.M.H. Abayarathna, said that the Government projects would be implemented in the Puttalam district to mitigate the human-elephant conflict.
The Minister said so during a discussion conducted to raise awareness of such projects among public officers, including those of the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Approval of the government has been received for several projects proposed by the Coordinating Committee, Puttalam district. These projects mainly focus on developing areas for food and catchment areas that wild elephants need. The Minister pointed out that by preventing elephants from invading villages by way of cleaning and restoring tanks and catchment areas in protected areas, nearby parks and forests, and also growing various types of grass that are essential food for wild elephants in identified areas, it is possible to ensure that wild elephants roam only in forest areas. Accordingly, approval has been granted to the project for restoring the Galwila Park, Putalam, the Minister said.
The spread of the Kalapu Andara (Prosopis juliflora) plant in the Galwila Park, which was established in 2020, and water sources getting contaminated and becoming unusable have led to wild elephants and other wild animals coming close to or into human settlements.
Minister Abayarathna pointed out that wild elephants can be prevented from entering villages by restoring the grasslands and catchment areas in the Galwila Park. Accordingly, the minister instructed the relevant parties to remove Kalapu Andara plants that have spread throughout the Galwila Park and cultivate grasslands and also to develop catchment areas as soon as possible. The Minister stated that these measures will not only create an environment in which wild elephants can live freely but also boost tourism as an extension of the project.