Action should be taken against those who deforest Wilpattu National Park.

Coalition to Protect Our National Heritage said yesterday if former Minister Wimal Weerawansa was remanded for misusing state vehicles, politicians and government servants who were behind the deforestation of the Wilpattu National Park should also be brought before the FCID and CID. Environmental activist Nayanaka Ranwella said the devastators of the environment should have been in prison for causing an irreparable loss to the environment and added that they were urging the government to implement the law against the culprits. “While Wimal Weerawansa was arrested for misusing state vehicles, politicians and government servants who destroyed Wilpattu National Park are at large. We can buy vehicles but we cannot repair the destruction caused to the environment,” he said. He told a news conference that more than 3, 400 acres of the Wilpattu Forest Reserve had been destroyed and that the deforestation was continuing under the present government as well. He urged the President as the Environmental Minister to mediate in resolving the issue as it would endanger the rare “Villu” eco-systems. Environmental Activist Sajeewa Chamikara said people from other areas were being settled in Wilpattu Forest Reserve for political advantage claiming that it was resettlement. “It is not resettlement which is happening in these areas. People from other areas are brought to these deforested areas on political requirements. Minister Rishad Bathiudeen is trying to justify his taking over of the forested areas,” he said. He said 280 acres of forested land was taken over by Minister Bathiudeen and Basil Rajapaksa by forcing the Forest Department to release the land during the previous government and added that over 1, 700 acres had been cleared illegally so far. “The Forest Department officials were helpless as they were unable to take action against them,” he said. (Ajith Siriwardana)

See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/-Action-should-be-taken-against-those-who-deforest-Wilpattu-National-Park-122423.html

Man killed in shootout at Wasgamuwa National Park

A 38-year-old man was killed at the Wasgamuwa National Park during a shootout between wildlife officers and a group of hunters, who had allegedly entered the park last night, Police said. A wild life officer has also been arrested in connection with the shootout which took place when officials launched a search operation following a tip off. Police said the three individuals were asked to surrender but had opted to open fire. A suspect who was injured during the shootout had succumbed to his injuries after he was admitted to the Wilgamuwa Hospital.   Investigations revealed that wildlife officers had used rubber bullets during the shootout.(M.W. Somaratne)

See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Man-killed-in-shootout-at-Wasgamuwa-National-Park-122361.html#sthash.hAOSy4wu.dpuf

Local community plants 600 saplings to develop the Podiwewa ecosystem

The surroundings of the Podiwewa, a minor irrigation tank in Monaragala was a hive of activity recently as the villagers from Thimbirigas-ara in Buttala came together with a single intention in mind.

(FAO officer and a child planting a sapling . Photo Credits: FAO/JUDE Anton Raj)

Don’t trash nature’s gifts, wildlife experts plead

.

(Birds; victims of careless garbage dumping by us humans. Pix by Sumith Bandara)

Reckless disposal of garbage in our localities can put precious bird life in peril as two recent incidents showed.Wildlife specialists are appealing to Sri Lankans to be a lot more considerate after rescuing two species of bird that endured the horrors of human encroachment of their habitat.

Herpetologist and wildlife photographer Mendis Wickramasinghe and two assistants Sumith Bandara and Saman waited until dusk last Sunday to go to the aid of a purple heron (karawal koka), which often feeds on fish in marshes and paddy fields, struggling to free its beak tangled in a plastic contraption.
Photos of its plight at Boralasgamuwa tank, caught the attention of social media users and drew the usual chatter.

Wickramasinghe and his aides freed the blue heron from its misery. They then checked for possible wounds and released the bird. The following morning they visited the location to give it a meal of fish, but the blue heron had other ideas and flew off to feed itself.Bandara said it was a happy outcome, but he pleaded with Sri Lankans to abandon destructive habits. “People need to be more careful when dumping waste,” he said.

But then two days later, he had to rescue another bird from similar circumstances.Being a keen wildlife photographer, Bandara again visited the Boralasgamuwa tank on Wednesday evening. He soon saw a yellow bittern (kaha metikoka) with its beak entangled in a net. Bandara noticed it was a discarded mosquito net.

As dusk approached Bandara and friend Amila Ranga waded into deep water and released the bird from the net. It was a risky exercise. The exhausted bird appeared disoriented and stood by for a few minutes before taking flight.Bandara also noted that strings used for kite flying have also become death traps for birds.

Source : Sunday Times http://www.sundaytimes.lk/161211/news/dont-trash-natures-gifts-wildlife-experts-plead-219744.html

FAO, EU Help Develop Tank Ecosystem in Podiwewa

1,000 saplings planted to mark CTC’s Annual Tree Planting Program

Plant a Tree – Save Planet, the annual tree planting program organised by the Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC (CTC) was held at the banks of Polgolla Reservoir in November. 1,000 saplings were planted to mark this annual event by 200 volunteers representing CTC, Mahaweli Authority, Central Environment Authority, Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Police and the Pahatha Dumbara Technical College.

Speaking about the annual project CTC’s Supply Chain Director Rukshan Gunethilake said that this annual activity brings together employees and stakeholders to mark the National Tree Planting Week; “Through this activity CTC is not only taking part in a national event but are also creating the awareness among the community of the importance of conserving the forest cover that will in return protect the water catchment areas.”

The tree planting project was carried out on a plot of land which was selected based on the environmental requirement. The company believes that programs of this nature support the national drive to increase forest cover in Sri Lanka. CTC hopes that this project would help reforest and conserve the environment around the Polgolla Reservoir area and in return nurture the water catchment areas bordering the Mahaweli River.

As a responsible corporate entity, CTC believes in working together with communities and strengthening relationships with the agriculture and farming communities of Sri Lanka by continuing to support them through their core operations and sustainability initiatives. The Tree Planting Program ‘Plant a Tree – Save Planet’ supports the Company’s Sustainability Agenda as well as the Environmental Pillar of Sustainable Tobacco Production (STP) standards.

Source :10/12/2016 Daily FT //www.ft.lk/article/585114/1-000-saplings-planted-to-mark-CTC-s-Annual-Tree-Planting-Program#sthash.wNR6dHRq.dpuf

Researchers and elephants – we have a problem!

ohn Dewey said that “every great advance in science has come from a new audacity of imagination” and these acts of imagination have to come from researchers. The numbers for Sri Lanka appear to be really worrying as the critical mass necessary is seriously missing.

Research is investing money to generate knowledge. Today in Sri Lanka the country’s investment on R&D is estimated to be around 0.16% of GDP. This is not adequate and well below that of a LDC. Yet on actual terms some millions of US Dollars are spent on research and development.

In the public space there are around 66 research institutes and university faculties in the area of science and technology. These are spread over 21 line ministries. There is a trend of private sector research in science and technology growing too. As there is clearly a business intention when private sector R&D is taking place, there is much less visibility of quantitative data on private investments.

Scarcity of researchers

Innovation step returns money back based on the knowledge generated through investments. The first step is vital as innovation depends on research and research is primarily a researcher activity. Hence the importance of research is undisputed and the whole process depends on persons with integrity, patience and creativity. Researchers can come from many strata with research academics at universities and senior research scientists at institutions crowding the apex of positions.

There is no accurate current estimate of number of researchers (both full time and part time) and the process of estimation is not yet dynamic. Hopefully the Sri Lanka Innovation Dashboard which bagged the first place in recent e-Swabhimani awards in the Government category will provide us with a dynamic display of status. However, individual participation is vital to make the process a success.

Sri Lanka Innovation Dashboard expects to capture research and researchers and inventors at all levels. As per the National Science Technology and Innovation strategy document, the total number of all available researchers with PhDs in Universities at present in Sri Lanka is 1,160 (of which only less than 300 are currently supervising research degrees – producing an average of 20-50 research degrees a year, by 16 universities). This number of supervisors is inadequate to train the target of 20,000 researchers.

The larger number comes from UNESCO’s identified rule of thumb of number of researchers required to an economy of Sri Lanka which is a lower middle income economy. The value indicated for Sri Lanka is 278 in the 2013 estimate. Compare the position of Singapore with over 8,000 per million of population. There is definitely a scarcity of researchers.

We give great attention to elephants. An entire industry more or less depends on the presence of these majestic animals and religious places too cry foul when they cannot get the numbers necessary to parade on streets. All the interest however is not based on the welfare of the animals. The statistics indicate that the number of elephant population to be from 5,000-5,600 as per Department of Wildlife data. It appears that we more or less have the same number of elephants as researchers! While we really worry over the decline of the elephant population, researchers have been given scant attention. The repercussions are not on just one industry but on the whole economy.

Indian example

I place this story that is circulating with a purpose. Also being at Indian Institute of Science which is a Postgraduate Research University (modelled as per the John Hopkins University of USA) I know the relevance and the contribution that it makes. This is where high-end research is carried out within the country as in this case for India.

“Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata was once, travelling to Europe. As he stood there, at the door of his First Class Cabin in the steamliner, he noticed a lot of activity on the lower decks of the ship. On inquiring, he learned that a great Indian Saint, Shri Swami Vivekananda, was on board the same ship. Out of genuine respect and curiosity, J.N. Tata decided to pay a visit to the great saint.

“Swami Vivekananda had, of course, heard about the respected industrialist. As the conversation grew J.N. Tata explained that he was on his way to Germany. ‘I have with me sacks of soil: From various parts of India. I am taking these samples of soil to Germany. I wish to know if iron can be extracted profitably from any of these districts,’ said J.N. Tata to the Saint, to which Swami Vivekananda replied, ‘Well, Sir, even if these sacks contain iron-rich soil, do you honestly believe that the Europeans will tell you the truth? You must understand that no/none of the European Nations wish to see a strong/steel-rich/economically independent India. The soil is probably rich in iron-ore but the sad truth is all you will get from your inquiries across Europe is disbelief and pessimistic reactions.

“Needless to say, having interacted with several Europeans J.N. Tata knew this to be true. Swami Vivekananda continued, ‘Why don’t you start an excellent/up-to-date research facility and college here in India? Why don’t you train some good Indian youngsters to identify soil and conduct these tests and find ways of profitably extracting metals? It may seem like a wasteful; burdensome expenditure right now, but in the long run – it will save you many trips to Europe and you can have the assurance of knowing the truth quickly – rather than taking multiple opinions due to doubt.’

“As he could clearly sense J.N. Tata’s mood was in acquiescence, he further elaborated, ‘Seek an audience with the Maharaja of Mysore H.R.H. Wodeyar. Though a subordinate of the British, he will definitely help you in every way he can. H.R.H. Wodeyar has been generous enough to sponsor my own trip to Chicago to attend the Parliament of Religions.’ As soon as he returned to India, J.N. Tata headed straight for Mysore. And indeed, H.R.H. Chamraja Wodeyar did not disappoint him. The King granted 370 acres of land for the setting up of the Research Facility and College that J.N. Tata had envisioned and it was named the Indian Institute of Science.”

What is clearly indicated is most of the times crucial answers to your questions one needs to source from within. Thus when countries have critical mass of researchers there is the generation of knowledge and if the rest of the eco-system is present there is the option of investment of knowledge to generate revenue to the economy. These simple representations indicate the urgency for us in addressing this dearth.

This situation cannot be rectified overnight. Starting from higher purposeful investments by the Government, the task has to move forward within a defined timeframe. The political leadership has to come to a clear understanding of this national need and its potential returns upon implementation.

Research to the fore

When research is at frontiers there is the blurring of discipline boundaries. Today there is so much excitement at subject interfaces. The three dominant technology areas – information technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology – are spawning many an area in areas of convergence. Almost unique developments are prophesied where all three converge. Bioinformatics was convergence of biotechnology and information technology.

Nanobiotechnology and bionanotechnology areas result from the interface of bio and nanotechnologies. Quantum computing is when nanotechnology and information technology interacts. The area where triple convergence occurs is an exciting frontier to be considered. One must admit that there is a fourth area that is emerging – neurotechnology (cognitive sciences) which push the boundaries even further.

Sri Lankan researchers through networking can and should engage in frontier research. If we strategically understand the research space there are areas where not only we can participate but perhaps lead too. Biomimetics offer significant opportunity. The combination of indigenous medicinal systems with modern science is another area. If Sri Lanka understands the value of strategic investments as had been shown with Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC) host of other areas definitely opens up with possibilities – advanced nanomaterials and applications, information technologies in interfaces, renewable energy systems (biogas, microbial fuel cells, etc.).

With so many opportunities for engagement one should have an ecosystem which encourages and rewards young researchers to take on the seemingly impossible than stick to well traversed pathways. There again there is a responsibility on the Government in understanding the role of researchers in propelling the position of the country when a critical mass of researchers really get themselves engaged on frontier areas

Source Daily FT 08/12/2016 : http://www.ft.lk/article/584607/Researchers-and-elephants-%E2%80%93-we-have-a-problem-#sthash.PRgfdHvC.dpuf

Devastation of forest cover causes irreparable environmental damage

Environmentalists raise concern over the imminent devastation of forest coverage and the resultant loss of biodiversity due to the mining of quartz deposit in the Kotikambokka Kosgahawela Forest Reserve in Wellawaya, and also about the road being laid through the forest to access the quartz deposit.  They blame the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) for approving a private company allied to the bureau to engage in the task.  Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry Secretary Udaya R. Seneviratne, in a letter sent on March 10, 2016, had instructed the GSMB Chairman to make necessary arrangements to commence the mining of the quartz deposit and construction of the access road as this decision was taken by the President at the progress review meeting of the Environment Ministry on March 31 this year.

Environmentalists say this project to exploit quartz deposit in an environmentally-significant sensitive forest area of Kotikambokka in Ethiliwewa Beat of the forest reserve, which comes under the purview of the Forest Conservation Department, would lead to many environmental and social problems. This is a natural forest area and habitat for biodiversity system consisting of endemic species.

The Kotikambokka Forest Reserve is an inter-zone forest, mixed with Savannah grass land. Environmentalists claim Gammalu, Aralu, Bulu Welan, Milla and Dada Kirala are prominent among the flora of this forest range and various kinds of orchids unique to the country are found here.  Damages undergone by this environmental system since 2010, due to the activities of individuals and companies on political influences, would be aggravated by the clearing of sensitive wet layers of the forest to build the road to access the quartz deposit.

Meanwhile, Raja Vidana Pathirana of the Monaragala Nature Foundation said for the eight-metre wide 400-metre road, a strip of forest was to be cleared along the north boundary of the Alikota Ara Reservoir under the Uma Oya multi-purpose scheme, of which construction was now in progress.  He said some 250-300 well-grown and valuable trees were to be cut and uprooted in a bid to clear the path, disturbing the existence of biodiversity in and around.

Further, he said the need for the access road had arisen due to the construction of the new Alikota Ara Reservoir of the Uma Oya Project.

However, Uma Oya Project Manager Engineer P.M.M.P.S.D. Herath had sent a letter to the Monaragala District Forest Officer on August 13, explaining the probable adverse effects on the new reservoir in clearing the forest cover on site of quartz deposit and the Kosgahawela Forest Reserve. However, Technological Services Private Limited (TSC) of the GSMB has sought approval for a land area of two hectares for mining of the quartz deposit in the Kosgahawela Forest Reserve.

According to the No. 722/22 Gazette notification issued on June 24, 1993, under the No. 47 of 1980 Environment Act, ministry approval has to be obtained after an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). However, the TSC seems to begin the mining activities without an EIA, taking the advantage of political influence as revealed.  However, severe damage to the dam of the reservoir is inevitable when the blasting is done in mining the quartz deposit. The Kosgahawela Forest Reserve where this quartz deposit is located and the reservoir are fed with water from the Alikota Ara canal.  Clearing of forest cover in these areas would cause soil erosion, and the deposit of sediments in the reservoir would dwindle the water storage capacity of the reservoir in a short span of time.

However, when we contacted Monaragala District D.P. Prasad and asked about the mining of the quartz deposit, he affirmed beginning of the proposed project. He said the forest area had already experienced a considerable environmental damage due to several improper mining done on several occasions in the past.  He pointed out that inappropriate mining would cause severe damage to this sensitive environment system, and that it was advisable to begin the mining operation after studying an environmental impact report. However, he declined to explain further. Meanwhile, the environmentalists said those interested in achieving economic gains in a short period of time had misled the President who was also the Environment Minister, thus ignoring the irreparable loss to the entire country in the long run.  They also stressed the importance of the President’s attention with regards to these sensitive environmental concerns.  –

Source : 01/12/2016 Daily Mirror http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Devastation-of-forest-cover-causes-irreparable-environmental-damage-120031.html

Generating clean energy at cost of nature

Sri Lanka’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) propose to promote Mini and Micro Hydro Power generation projects as an environmental friendly power generation option to national economy. Mini hydro power plants with 176 MW capacity will be established in the coming years. They expect to reduce 20 percent of GHG emission (approximately 36,010.2 Gg) in energy sector by 2030 against the Business-As-Usual scenario as unconditionally 4 percnt (approximately 7,202.04 Gg) and conditionally 16 percent (approximately 28,808.16 Gg) as a solution for climate change.However, we have to address the issue whether we want to develop clean energy at the cost of nature, social and cultural needs.

Sri Lanka’s energy mix

The average per capita electricity consumption in 2014 was 535 kWh per person in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan power system has a total installed capacity of 3500 MW by end of 2014 including 1285 MW thermal power. The maximum demand recorded in 2014 was 2152 MW. Therefore, one does not see major issues with installed capacity.

The CEB’s own generation mix has changed dramatically in recent years. In 2014, it generated around 3600 GWh from hydropower plants, 3200 GWh from coal-fired power plants and 1800 GWh from oil-fired power plants. The CEB’s generation mix was quite different in 2013, when it generated almost 6000 GWh from hydro, 1500 GWh from coal and 1300 GWh from oil. The government has taken a policy decision to develop hydro-power plants below 10 MW capacities by the private sector – the reason for this mini hydro controversy.

Since 1996 many small hydro plants and a few other renewable power plants have been connected to the grid. Total capacity of these plants is approximately 350 MW. These plants are mainly connected to 33 kV distribution lines. The CEB has signed standard power purchase agreements for another 249 MW. Shifting production at the CEB over the years has been due to a wide range of factors, including the lack of rainfall, introduction of coal, the growing amount of power generated by private companies and reach of the transmission grid, which currently serves more than 98 percent of the population.

Mini-hydro is one of the best sovereign and renewable energy sources to combat climate change. This was certainly in the era that Sri Lanka was promoting village hydro/pico hydro to provide electricity to the rural villages with no grid connection. This is a better option for rural electrification without depending on the imported coal, oil or gas and large grid as long as they are not connected to the national electricity grid.

Things changed when the multi-million companies got into the business with developing mini-hydro connected to the national grid. The so called mini hydro experts started selling potential locations to rich companies backed by politicians, even the Sustainable Energy Authority started providing provisional approval for the project with no scientific analysis done on the impacts to the river ecosystem and society.

Aesthetic beauty and biodiversity

Sri Lankan landscape has over 700 waterfalls, and over 150 have vanished by the mini hydro projects. Over 200 km of streams are now flowing through the pipelines and the river sections are dried up. River users are completely helpless and the river biodiversity including the fish species have gone forever. Diyagalla Ella in Watawala, Kurundu Oya Ella, St Clairs are some famous falls destroyed for hydropower. Ali Hatha, Atha Mala Ella, Hath Male Ella, Athwelthota Ella and many others will also disappear soon. The CEA has a list of 546 waterfalls to be gazetted for conservation. This list does not include those project already approved and under construction. Some of the bigger falls are among those have removed from the list by the CEA officers.

Unfortunately, the Central Environmental Authority, Forest Department, Wildlife Department, Geological Survey and the Mines Bureau got officials sympathetic with the project developers but not on the environment or the affected people. The most recent example is that approval of the 1 MW mini hydro-power project in Morapitiya-Athwelthota waterfall where the National Aquatic Resource and Research Agency found that 15 fish species out of 25 are in danger. The location is home to two point endemic fish species i.e Martenstyne’s Goby and Rasboroides nigomarginatus. The EIA consultants however, only reported 18 fish species in this location in 2014 whereas the Wildlife Conservation Society, Galle found 32 fish species. This shows that we cannot depend on EIA consultants, who make reports to justify the projects in favour of the developer who pay the consultancy fees.

(Mini hydro in Ramboda Falls)

Corrupt approval process

Sadly, the EIA process in Sri Lanka is corrupt and misleading. Its process has lost the glory days due to the political interventions, lack of EIA law enforcement, unqualified project staff approving agencies and corrupt EIA experts/ academics. Therefore, current EIA process has failed to control the damage done to the river systems by the Mini hydro developers.

So far the CEA has approved over 100 mini hydro power projects. Fish ladders and environmental flow has given as an important conditions among many others. But none of these dams are operating the fish ladders or release adequate environmental flow. The truth is that the CEA does not monitor these projects and they have no capacity to do so. Therefore, the CEA has no idea what these dams done to our river network.

The condition on fish ladders is an attempt of green washing of mini-hydro dams by the CEA and rest of the project approving agencies. None of them have the expertise on how the fish ladders are working in Sri Lankan context. We do not even have good research on which species are migrating and which time of the year. Most threatened fish species in Sri Lanka cannot use fish ladders. Therefore, fish ladders are not the solution for many migratory species. A river study in the US Northeast has found that many fish species are unable to use standard passageways to swim past dams on their spawning runs . They also found even if they go upstream, they cannot swim downstream. Why these officers still fool people by giving fish ladders as a condition is a question.

Similarly, no dam operators provide adequate environmental flow, which is the second lie in approving the dams. Only about 4-inch diameter PVC pipe has used as the e-flow where the river is more than 30 meter wide.

In the case of Athwelthota and In Gatambe mini hydro projects, a condition has also given to translocate these threatened fish species, which is not practical and studied yet at all. Why do the CEA officers and developers fool the nature and people with such conditions? It should be noted that fish is not the only biodiversity living in these microhabitats. Thousands of other fauna and flora species may lose survival due to this destruction.

Sustainable Energy Authority is a problem

The problems in the mini hydro is a procedural issues too. The Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) is the main culprit for the damage done by the mini hydro projects. They issue the provisional approval without any information on the negative environmental impacts of the project which then developer use to obtain rest of the licences. Those other ignorant agencies such as local authorities, divisional secretariats provide their approval without much worry. The CEA and other project approving agencies satisfy the documentary need by requesting Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and very rarely an EIA. IEE documents are not open for public comments. People learn the projects in the last minute and too late for any intervention. By the time the developer has spend significant amount of money for the EIA consultants and the officials and they are not ready to be defeated in this process. To allow this process, the SEA has issued a gazette notification declaring that 500-meter of the riverbank each side may be given for mini hydro development. They have also declared certain rivers as hydro-power potential rivers without even basic environmental assessment or strategic environmental assessment produced.

What should we do

We are now in the era of climate change. Humans are not the only species in trouble due to this man-made disaster. Running rivers are very much important for river life and people. Once lost these ecosystems cannot recover at all. It took almost a decade to understand the wrong doing by the mini hydro projects. It is too late in certain rivers. The river ecosystem in the Kuru Ganga, the Mahaweli Ganga upstream are almost dead now.

We have no protected rivers for fish, fresh water crabs and others species of fauna and flora. The latest Red Data List reports Sri Lanka has 50 endemic crab species out of 51 species, 256 endemic spider species out of 501 species. It also reports 205 out of 253 land snails are endemic to Sri Lanka and 50 fish species out of 91 species found in Sri Lanka are endemic. The data shows that protecting the terrestrial ecosystems is so important. Unfortunately, the CEA and other project-approving agencies are so ignorant about this data and approve project in such sensitive habitats.

It is time to fight against destructive mini hydro projects and stop them. It is also time to demolish those mini hydro projects which are not productive and built in sensitive ecosystems. It is not a sustainable climate solution anymore. Let the non-traditional renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, tidal power take the place of mini hydro to mitigate climate change. We request Climate Change Secretariat to remove the reference to the mini-hydro projects from Sri Lanka’s Nationally Determined Contributions.

Source : 29/11/2016 Daily News http://www.dailynews.lk/2016/11/29/features/100499

jumbo solution needed for EP human-elephant conflict

Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife Gamini Jayawickrama Perera has received Cabinet approval in March to set up Wildlife Administration Units in areas where the conflict was rampant. This was to allow officials to take immediate action when such incidents are reported. In July, Cabinet further granted approval

to set up five more units to review their progress, so that they could be replicated around the country. This was a short term measure to resolve the conflict

Sixty-year-old Athamlebbe Abdul Gaffoor was riding his bicycle on the way to his paddy field in Illukuchenai, Ampara in the morning when an elephant attacked him, trampling him to death.

A father of five from the Addalaichenai, Division No. 9, Meenodaikaddu area, he was only one of the many victims of the human-elephant conflict in the Eastern Province.

Villagers of Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts complain that wild elephant attacks in recent times have intensified and that the elephants are braving their way further into these villages in search of food and water.

The people have also resorted to setting fire to forests in the area to keep elephants away causing environmental harm.

“Earlier these elephants used to enter our villages only during the night. But now they are entering our villagers even during the day,” said Mohamed Abbas.

Abbas explained that the villagers live in fear and at times, many leave the villages at night to sleep elsewhere.

“Most of our time is spent chasing these wild elephants from our areas or our fields. The men keep watch at night while the women take on that role in the daytime. Because of this, we have very little time to improve our livelihoods,” he said.

The Eastern Province has the most profitable paddy cultivation in the island but many farmers have suffered losses over the years because of the wild elephants’ rampage. Even they invade their home gardens causing great losses to many households.

Their children have to sit for the O/L exam in this December but they fear that they would not be able to acquire sufficient knowledge of the subjects as a wild elephant often interrupt their studies by entering their school compound.

“Our children cannot study. When they are studying, wild elephants come in. We are all under severe stress,” said 35-year-old Fathima Rauff.

The villagers claimed that the Eastern Province authorities neglect their pleas and not to take steps to resolve the issue.

Every year about 50-60 people and 200 elephants die as a result of the human-elephant conflict, they claim.

However, Minister, Sustainable Development and Wildlife Gamini Jayawickrama Perera has received Cabinet approval in March to set up Wildlife Administration Units in areas where the conflict was rampant. This was to allow officials to take immediate action when such incidents are reported. In July, Cabinet granted approval to set up five more units to review their progress, so that they could be replicated around the country. This was a short term measure to resolve the conflict.

In addition, Cabinet in October granted approval to erect 800km of electric fence around villages with elephant threats. Around 3,300 km of electric fence has already been erected in areas where the conflict causes severe damages. In this year alone, the government has built 275 km of fence and in 2017 it plans to add 800km of fence in seven wildlife zones. However, who would be in charge of monitoring these fences and to ensure that they work as planned is yet to be decided. The fences have to continuously monitored and repaired since elephants do break them from time to time.

At a recent Ampara District Secretariat meeting, it was proposed to erect electric fences.They have even announced the decision to the villagers.

The villagers have also requested to extend the fences to the interior of villages since the elephants have now made it a habit to enter further inwards.

The human-elephant conflict make havoc in the East. A farmer traveling to his paddy field at around 5.30 am was trampled to death by an elephant at the 4th mile post along the Ampara- Akkaraipattu road in the Akkaraipattu DS division.

A wild elephant attached a teacher from Sammanthurai area when she was on her way to school.

Ibralebbe Kamarudeen (69), was rushed to the Oluvil district hospital having suffered an elephant attack when he was going to the Jummah mosque in Ashraff Nagar to attend Friday prayers.

Katheeja Ummah (52) was attacked by an elephant while at home in Ashraff Nagar, a re-settlement village in the Addalaichenai DS division. She was admitted to the Akkaraipattu Base Hospital with serious injuries.

These ‘every day’ attacks beg the question of compensation. With unplanned development worsening the conflict by the day, naturally the people demand compensation from the government for their losses. The compensation however does not often reach them or when it does, it comes very late.

In September, Cabinet granted approval to amend the compensation payment for damages caused by wild elephants. As of September 2016, the total compensation payment made was about Rs. 25-35 million.

However, Cabinet approval was granted to increase the compensation for deaths and permanent disabilities (irrespective of victims’ age) caused by wild elephant attack to Rs. 200,000 – Rs. 75,000 for physical injuries and Rs. 100,000 for house and property damages.

A committee chaired by the District Secretary receive the payments to prevent delays in payment. Moreover, a Committee of Appeal chaired by the Director General of Wildlife will consider the appeals of those who are not satisfied with the decisions taken by the former committee.

However, the villagers are yet to witness the efficiency of these committees in awarding compensation to the victims of the conflict..

Source : 21/11/2016 Daily news  http://www.dailynews.lk/2016/11/21/features/99637