The Authorities is taking measures to completely operationalise the Managed Elephant Reserve (MER) in Hambantota.
The Hambantota MER types a part of a wider elephant hall linking Yala, Bundala and Udawalawe Nationwide Parks.
Though the MER was initially gazetted in 2021, officers say that the required authorized framework was solely finalised this yr with rules printed by an Extraordinary Gazette on Jan. 30, 2026.
Talking at a media briefing held in Colombo yesterday (Could 18) on the progress of the MER, Atmosphere Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi stated that the federal government supposed to acquire a complete report by appointing a multi-stakeholder committee, since there had been no sustainable nationwide coverage to successfully mitigate the human-elephant battle (HEC) and different points associated to elephants.
Shortcomings being addressed
“In 2020 there was a plan to handle these issues, but it surely lacked correct authorized implementation,” he stated. “We have to appropriate these shortcomings and procure sensible suggestions for the longer term,” he added.
He additional famous {that a} broader coverage evaluation can also be underway, protecting the usage of domesticated elephants, together with their deployment in cultural and non secular processions in the course of the perahera seasons.
The minister additionally stated that the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is predicted to be developed right into a devoted analysis and breeding centre, shifting in the direction of a extra science-based conservation mannequin.
Responding to allegations that the Ministry and the Division of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) has allowed growth alongside elephant corridors prior to now, the Minister additionally admitted that such unauthorised or policy-deviating initiatives had taken place however the authorities is now working to handle these issues.
He additionally emphasised that no photo voltaic initiatives are situated throughout the Hambantota MER itself.
No solar energy initiatives inside MER
Echoing the minister, DWC’s Further DG (Operations) – Manjura Amararatne stated that not a single solar energy mission is situated throughout the MER however they’ve opposed such initiatives in shut proximity.
“There isn’t a single photo voltaic mission throughout the MER. We now have opposed these close by. There are 03 initiatives that have been initiated not too long ago. Three massive, 100Mw initiatives. We now have vehemently opposed these initiatives… No permits have been granted for them. Nevertheless, there are a number of quarries that had commenced a lot earlier,” he stated.
DWC can’t do that alone
In the meantime, Deputy Atmosphere Minister Anton Jayakodi outlined plans to revive and strengthen the Hambantota MER.
He identified that the years of ecological degradation within the space have pressured elephants to enter close by villages in quest of meals and water, intensifying human-elephant conflicts within the space.
The Deputy Minister elaborated that the federal government’s restoration program contains rehabilitating 06 irrigation tanks to make sure year-round water entry, growing grasslands for fodder and eradicating invasive plant species that impede pure vegetation development.
Noting that the DWC can’t do that work alone, he urged civil organisations, environmental teams and native communities to contribute.
