Sri Lanka, Nov. 5 -- The Ministry of Environment has not granted approval for the on-going campaign launched to drive away wild elephants that have entered villages into forest reserves in Hambantota and Anuradhapura, according to a senior spokesperson of the Ministry.

Responding to an inquiry made by Ada Derana, the official stated that the Ministry became aware of the operations only after media reports on the matter were published.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Environment has instructed wildlife officers to immediately suspend the ongoing operations.

The spokesperson further noted that launching such an operation at a time when a national plan for managing the human-elephant conflict is being implemented cannot be approved. He added...