The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, I table the answer.

¶ 02 Answer tabled.

¶ 03 (a) (i) As per the 2011 islandwide elephant survey, 5,879.

¶ 04 (ii) Numbers of elephant and tusker deaths due to HEC for 2020-2024 are provided in the tabled answer.

¶ 05 (iii) Key drivers include land-use in and around elephant ranges (notably chena cultivation), cattle encroachment into forests, and illegal entry by villagers into forests leading to elephant attacks. About 50% of annual human fatalities are linked to human negligence. Proximity of crops to protected areas and storage of paddy in houses increase property and bodily harm.

¶ 06 (iv) Measures include: - Construction of 5,612 km of electric fencing by end-2024; an additional 588 km under construction across Southern, Uva, Eastern, Central, North Western, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi and Polonnaruwa regions. - Deployment of 4,005 Civil Security personnel for fence maintenance and protection. - Establishment of patrol posts with 737 Civil Security personnel at HEC hotspots. - Recruitment of 3,647 multipurpose Development Assistants to the DWC for round-the-clock fence maintenance and protection. - Procurement and distribution of 1,620,000 elephant thunder crackers at a cost of Rs. 350 million. - Compensation: Rs. 380 million paid in 2023; Rs. 372 million paid so far for 2024. - GPS collaring to track movement patterns; data used to guide project planning. - Identification and removal of rogue/problem elephants where necessary. - Identification and protection of elephant corridors (alimankada) and removal of obstructions. - Community outreach from 2023: GN-level risk mapping, house-to-house awareness with GNs, DSs, and local authorities; clearing understory along interface paths and installing street lights in dark stretches. - Habitat enrichment 2023-2024: understory clearance along roadsides (hectares specified in tabled answer), grassland and water source management (hectares/units specified).

¶ 07 (b) New technologies piloted to assess effectiveness: 1) Locally produced energizers piloted in Udawalawe, Ampara, Puttalam. 2) Acoustic repellents emitting frequencies averse to elephants piloted in Ampara, Galgamuwa, Polonnaruwa. 3) Use of drones with Navy and Air Force support in Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Southern regions. 4) Use of bee-sound acoustics in Maduru Oya and Ampara ranges. 5) Smoke repellents from burning oil mixtures tested. 6) Reinforcing weak points in main fences exiting Udawalawe NP with concrete pads. 7) Testing smoke from certain medicinal incense for repellent effect. 8) Upgrades to electric fence designs to improve efficiency.

¶ 08 OPENING CEREMONY OF SHOPS AT BASTION MAWATHA: MEDIA COVERAGE (Question 450/2025)