The Hon. Anton Jayakody - Deputy Minister of Environment
On behalf of the Minister of Environment, the Deputy Minister stated that the 2011 census recorded 5,879 wild elephants and that the 2012 Red Data Book classified the Sri Lankan elephant as “Threatened,” with relevant documents placed in the Library. He reported that in 2024 human-elephant conflict caused 388 elephant deaths and 155 human deaths, and that Rs. 358.63 million was paid in compensation for human deaths and property damage.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Environment, I reply as follows.
¶ 02 (a) (i) As per the 2011 census, wild elephants number about 5,879.
¶ 03 (ii) The latest Red Data Book was issued in 2021, covering only birds. In 2020 it covered only plant species. In 2012 it covered both plants and animals. Relevant documents are placed in the Library.
¶ 04 (iii) According to the 2012 Red Data Book for plants and animals, the conservation status of the Sri Lankan elephant is “Threatened.” Relevant document is placed in the Library.
¶ 05 (iv) – Number of elephant deaths due to human-elephant conflict in 2024: 388. – Number of human deaths due to human-elephant conflict in 2024: 155.
¶ 06 (v) Compensation paid in 2024: For human deaths: Rs. 139,500,000.00 For property damage: Rs. 219,130,108.41 Total: Rs. 358,630,108.41
¶ 07 (b) Not applicable.
¶ 08 Annexures 01 and 02 placed in the Library.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Thursday, 19 June 2025 ·No. 1751430648025512 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. Anton Jayakody - Deputy Minister of Environment. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 19 June 2025. No. 1751430648025512. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/27444