INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
A committee making up government officials and experts has been selected under the leadership of Secretary to the President, Dr
Nandika Sanath Kumanayake to seek and implement sustainable options to manage and manage the damages caused by wild animals to food
production (Agriculture and Plantation sectors) through a scientific approach.The committee held its very first meeting at the Presidential
Secretariat.The primary goal of the committee is to carry out a scientific research study on the agricultural damage triggered by wild
animals and to implement brief, medium and long-lasting action plans
In addition to drafting national policies and legislation, the committee will likewise coordinate the arrangement of essential human,
physical and financial resources, the Presidents Media Division stated in a statement.It was stressed during the conference that choices
ought to be made by acknowledging wildlife as a part of the natural community
It was also kept in mind that any solution needs to acknowledge the right of wild animals to their natural environments
The requirement to implement a quick action programme for high-risk districts was also talked about, the PMD noted.Prof
Ashoka Dangolla from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Peradeniya shared his views, highlighting that based on
research carried out over more than 15 years on Toque macaque; it is possible to get to effective options through a scientific approach
He also pointed out that various approaches can be utilized to control animal populations.Director General of Wildlife Conservation
Marasinghe specified that a multi-pronged approach is essential to address this issue
He emphasised the value of animal censuses to get basic data on animal densities and highlighted that the matter should be approached
clinically, beyond social perceptions.It was also chosen that collecting inputs from all stakeholders including academics,
environmentalists, wildlife experts, officials and members of the public affected by wildlife dispute is essential.Among those present were
Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara, Ministry Secretaries consisting of Secretary to the Ministry of Public
Security, Ravi Seneviratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration S
Aloka Bandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation D.P
Wickramasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Secretary to the Ministry of
Justice and National Integration Ayesha Jinasena, public authorities including Director General of Department of Wildlife Conservation,
defence sector officers, university professors and the members of the Committee.
