Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2018-07-10

Establishment of an Elephant Retention Centre to retain the two elephants living in the Sinharaja Reserve

- The damage caused by the two elephants presently remaining in the Sinharaja World Heritage Reserve, to the lives and properties of the villagers living closer to the said reserve is gradually increasing. In this background, the attention of the Government has been focused to take expeditious measures to protect the two elephants and the lives and the properties of the villagers living closer to the Reserve. Accordingly, the proposal made by Field Marshal Hon. Sarath Fonseka, the Minister of Sustainable Development, Wildlife and Regional Development, to reserve and maintain an area of land in extent of 36 hectares situated in the Parugala area of the Dolekanda Grama Niladhary Division in Kalawana with environmental conditions suitable for the retention of the two elephants, was approved by the Cabinet.