Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2015-11-18

The Statute of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN)

- The South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) is an inter-governmental agreement among 08 South Asian Countries, namely, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, established with the objective of strengthening Wildlife Law Enforcement to combat wildlife crime through communication, coordination, collaboration, capacity building and cooperation. The responsibility of coordination of SAWEN activities in Sri Lanka is mainly entrusted with the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Sri Lanka, as a country enriched with bio-diversity will benefit immensely from the regional cooperation established under the above Enforcement Network. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, the Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife to obtain the approval for the Statute of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN), was approved by the Cabinet.