H’tota elephant management reserve essential to halt ecological destruction and rising human-elephant conflict – Minister Patabendi

He remarked, "Sri Lanka is experiencing an environmental disaster right before our eyes. Forests are disappearing, elephant pathways are being obstructed, and wild elephants are being driven into villages and farmland in search of food and water." The Minister emphasized that the Hambantota region has become one of the most significant areas for human-elephant conflict due to reckless land use and exploitation of the natural environment. "The elephant suffers because of human greed and poor planning. If we keep destroying forests under the guise of development without considering ecological balance, the results will be disastrous for both wildlife and people," he cautioned. Dr. Patabendi explained that the proposed Elephant Management Reserve would act as a scientifically managed area to safeguard important elephant pathways, manage land usage, and decrease dangerous interactions between elephants and humans. He pointed out that Sri Lanka continues to see alarming rates of elephant and human fatalities each year, calling the situation a "national environmental emergency." "Human-elephant conflict is not just a wildlife issue anymore. It is closely related to food security, rural safety, water resources, and ecological balance. The country cannot keep dealing with this crisis using temporary fixes and political statements," he added. The Minister also criticized illegal encroachments and harmful activities in sensitive forest areas, warning that strict measures would be enforced against those causing environmental harm. "There are organized efforts to exploit forest lands for private gains, ignoring the irreversible damage to biodiversity and ecosystems. Such actions will not be tolerated any longer," he declared. Dr. Patabendi insisted that sustainable development cannot come at the cost of forests and wildlife, stressing that environmental conservation should be a fundamental part of national policy, not an afterthought. Environmentalists have noted that Sri Lanka's elephant population is increasingly at risk due to shrinking habitats, broken migration paths, and growing human settlements. The Minister urged politicians, government agencies, and the public to support long-term conservation efforts instead of pushing for short-term solutions motivated by personal interests. "We have reached a crucial moment. We must protect these ecosystems now, or future generations will inherit a nation devoid of forests, wildlife, and ecological safety," he warned. The Environment Ministry plans to conduct more scientific consultations and discussions with stakeholders before proceeding with the implementation of the reserve.