The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, except for Delft Island, the survey covered all divisions including Colombo city. We repeatedly notified that anyone who did not receive a form could submit information on plain paper as well. Regarding the cost, it is indeed a remarkably low outlay to mobilize an entire country, including officials, to obtain such a large data system; under different circumstances this could have cost vastly more.

¶ 02 Previously we had no national data for these species; the last significant small-mammal census was in 2018 for squirrels. Now we have a baseline that any stakeholder — including the Environment Ministry and academia — can use to develop solutions. Discussions have commenced jointly.

¶ 03 On culling: we have not decided to kill or otherwise harm animals. We recognize the need to manage populations, but any action will be within the law and based on expert recommendations.

¶ 04 This was, in social-science terms, a large-scale survey rather than a classical census, relying on public reports. People affected may over-report relative to their exposure; hence the committee adopted the 50% correction for monkeys and langurs. We do not claim 100% precision, but the data are sufficient to guide management decisions. An expert committee comprising academics and responsible agencies (Environment, Wildlife, Agriculture) is considering solutions.