In a special message in honour of World Elephant Day, marked today, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stated that Sri Lanka’s elephant population is facing serious challenges, with elephants being systematically destroyed.
Speaking in front of a wild elephant at the Udawalawe National Park in a video message, MP Premadasa emphasized that the country must act with urgency to protect this precious resource.
Due to the ongoing human-elephant conflict, elephants are lost on one side, while human lives and property are lost on the other. A sustainable solution to this issue has yet to be found, he said.
He further stated that the conservation strategies currently in place must be gradually implemented to manage the human-elephant conflict, adding that even in this critical moment, it is possible to manage the situation to some extent.
He highlighted that Sri Lanka’s elephant population could be used to strengthen the country’s nature-based tourism industry, thereby improving the livelihoods of the people. He proposed that a nature-centred wildlife conservation strategy could be implemented as a means of sustainable development.
Moreover, MP Premadasa stressed that this noble resource must be protected and passed on to future generations as part of Sri Lanka’s natural heritage.
On this World Elephant Day, he called for the nation to unite in protecting the country’s elephant population by managing the human-elephant conflict effectively. Through systematic management, human lives, property, and agriculture can be safeguarded, he said. (Islandnews)
