Responding to Opposition MP Rohana Bandara, the Minister said the department is currently facing a shortage of around 900 officers and steps are being taken to fill those positions.
He said the recruitment drive would be complemented by efforts to strengthen operational capacity, with the tender process already underway to procure a fleet of 16 double cabs, 84 other cabs and 181 motorbikes.
According to the Minister, the new vehicles are intended primarily for officers engaged in managing human-elephant conflict situations.
