Protest in Oyamaduwa against release of captured elephants to Wilpattu

By B.G. Chaturanga   

 A massive protest was launched yesterday in Oyamaduwa  against the Wildlife Department’s decision to release the wild elephants captured from other areas to the Wilpattu Forest Reserve.   
 Residents from several areas including Oyamaduwa,  Maningamuwa, Ethdathkalla, Dunumadalawa, Bandaragama, and Kadurupitiya  participated.   
 They said the people in these areas would be left to the  mercy of marauding herds due to the step taken by the government. The  protest obstructed traffic to Thanthirimale and Mahawilachchiya areas.   
 They pointed out that herds of wild elephants roam into these areas causing crop devastation and endangering human  lives. The protesters said the prevailing threat would be further  aggravated by releasing the wild elephants  captured from Thalawa, Eppawala, Galnewa, Nochchiyagama, Kalawewa and  Migalewa areas to the Wilpattu Forest Reserve.