Sri Lanka, Feb. 25 -- A fire control week has been declared from February 23 to March 2, highlighting the increased risk of forest fires due to prevailing dry weather conditions.

The Forest Conservation Department stated that the initiative aims to educate the public on fire prevention, as such fires cause irreversible environmental damage and are difficult to extinguish once ignited.

Meanwhile, the fire that broke out yesterday in the Hamilton Watta reserve in Maskeliya has now been brought under control, with assistance from the Air Force, which deployed a Bell-412 helicopter for firefighting operations.

Additionally, due to the rising cost of electricity generation caused by dry weather, Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody stated dur...