Wilpattu: Moves to establish new boundary limits

The Forest Conservation Department yesterday said that steps have been taken to establish boundary limits of the forest areas in the north of the Wilpattu National Reserve.

The Department’s Conservator General Anura Sathurusinghe said the purpose of this initiative was to prevent illegal clearing and to protect boundary limits.

Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry Secretary Nihal Rupasinghe said the subject Deputy Minister had submitted a report to President Maithripala Sirisena and action would be taken within two weeks. He said meanwhile investigations had begun over the clearing of Wilpattu National Park. Wildlife Conservation Department Director General H. D. Ratnayake said this area of the Wilpattu National Reserve did not belong to the Wildlife Conservation Department but was a property which belonged to the Forest Department. He said since there were elephants in this area, some action would be taken to prevent Human- Elephant conflicts.