Environmental organisations oppose order to relocate Sinharaja elephants

Colombo (News 1st ) - Several environmental organizations have opposed the orders issued by the Environment Minister to release the two elephants of the Sinharaja forest reserve to the Horowpothana wildlife sanctuary. Executive Director of the Centre of Environmental Justice Hemantha Withanage stated that a letter of appeal has already been submitted requesting the president to waive off this order as the Sinharaja rain forest considered a world heritage has only these two elephants left in it and are used to living in tropical areas of the wet zone. Nonetheless, it was because the two elephants had caused massive destruction to many lives and properties located close to the boundaries of the Sinharaja forest that the Minister of Wild Life had given orders to release them to the Horowpothana sanctuary. According to Ministerial orders, the office of the assistant director of wildlife of the Southern and Uva regions have already started up a mission to capture the elephants. Assistant Director of Wild Life of the Southern and Uva provinces Prasanna Wimaladasa stated that within the course of the next two days the two elephants could be captured. However, he also added that he has not received specific orders on where to release them after been captured.