An illegal quarry inside the elephant reserve in Hambanthota

A quarry is reportedly operating inside the ‘Hambantota Manage Elephant Reserve’, in Sri Lanka’s South.

On the 09th of April, an Extraordinary Gazette notification was issued establishing a ‘Hambantota Managed Elephant Reserve’ under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as a solution to the human-elephant conflict.

The gazette was issued after farmers from Walsapugala carried out a 105-day protest and fast, demanding that the proposed are be gazetted.

Yet, according to the local farmers, illegal quarries continue to operate inside the ‘Hambantota Manage Elephant Reserve’, causing serious destruction to the environment.

Venerable Andarawewa Dhammananda Thero said the permits issued for such operation are being exploited, while locals said the authorities have turned a blind eye towards these issues.