Elephant Saviours

Budgetary allocations to protect elephants

Priyanka Kurugala

Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S M Chandrasena said that, the government has allocated around Rs 1,120 million for the protection of wild elephants in budget 2012. The ministry has drawn up a plan to launch a sustained programme to protect elephants with immediate effect, he said.

The budget has allocated Rs 400 million to develop the Vilpatthu National park, he said.

Apart from that the government has drawn up a plan to build four protection centers of elephants in Maduru Oya, Galgamuwa, Weheragala and Horowpatana. Rs 400 million has been allocated to build the Maduru Oya and Galgamuwa Elephant Protection Centers. Other than that, Rs 520 million will be allocated to build the Weheragala and Horowpatana Elephant Protection Centers, he said. The minister emphasized that, Rs 100 million will be allocated to introduce the new insurance scheme for farmers who are under the elephant threat.