The government has approved the procurement of 294 essential vehicles and modern communication equipment to enhance the operational efficiency of the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
This move comes amid growing concerns over the Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC), which claims around 80 human lives and over 260 elephants each year. The highest number of incidents are reported from the Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Ampara districts, where human settlements increasingly overlap with elephant habitats.
In addition, an extra allocation of Rs. 300 million has been approved to complete the construction of electric fences in all identified high-risk areas. This funding will also cover the repair and reconstruction of fences that are dilapidated, broken, partially completed, or still under planning, as part of the government’s ongoing effort to mitigate the conflict and protect both people and wildlife.
