Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi

¶ 01 Hon. Member, yes. As the Ministry of Environment and the Department of Wildlife Conservation, we have completed relevant recruitments. We have a special programme to properly deploy electric fence maintenance assistants. We have also initiated new recruitments needed for administration: competitive examinations have been held to recruit 149 Wildlife Range Assistants and 381 Wildlife Guards, and we await results from the Examinations Department. Once they join, along with the electric fence assistants and 5,000 Civil Security personnel attached to the Department, we will be able to manage them under a specific system within a short time. We acknowledge some current shortfalls, but will address them swiftly to ensure proper fence maintenance and conflict control.

¶ 02 Previously, the Department lacked sufficient human and physical resources. Last year we obtained approval to purchase 100 cabs, 181 bicycles, and hand tractors, etc. Procurement is underway. With these physical resources too, we are confident we can overcome many gaps soon.