PARLIAMENT

• Attention to amend the gazette notifications related to cutting of pine trees in private lands

The Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, Hon. Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi stated that steps can be taken to prevent human-elephant conflicts by recruiting multi-purpose officers to the Wildlife Conservation Department.

The Hon. Minister further stated that a cabinet paper has already been submitted for the permanent recruitment of the multi-purpose officers attached to the Department of Wildlife Conservation, and once the approval is received, they can be connected in order to take measures to prevent the impact caused by elephants.

Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, Hon. Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi made the above statement while replying to the issues raised by the Members of Parliament regarding the prevention of human-elephant conflicts at Ministerial Consultative Committee on Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation meeting held in Parliament recently.

The Members of Parliament mentioned that if the above multi-purpose officers are hired while the officers of the Civil Security Department who are already deployed to prevent elephant-human conflicts continue to work, day and night search operations can also be carried out to prevent elephants from entering villages.

Furthermore, the Members of Parliament also brought to the attention of the Minister regarding the obstacles in cutting pine trees that have been planted in places including private lands. The Minister mentioned that attention will be paid towards the amendment of the gazette notification related to cutting of pine trees in private lands.

The Members of Parliament pointed out that due to the demarcation of new forests currently being carried out by the Forest Department, people engaged in agriculture on lands that belonging to the Land Reform Commission (LRC) for many generations have been affected. The Minister also instructed the officials to pay attention in this regard.

Sate Ministers, The Leader of the Opposition Hon. Sajith Premadasa and Members of Parliament were present at the Committee meeting held.