Sri Lanka, Sept. 9 -- The Environment Ministry has stepped up protection in the country's forest reserves after a direct call from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for stronger measures against the rising number of elephant deaths, human-elephant conflict, and poaching.
Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi told the Sunday Observer yesterday that the Cabinet has approved a proposal to provide new vehicles to the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) to strengthen patrols and monitoring operations. The Ministry will procure 100 cabs, 181 motorcycles and several tractors through the Wildlife Fund to improve field mobility. The DWC has intensified anti-poaching drives, patrols, law enforcement, rescue missions, community outreach ...