Fasting farmers in Walsapugala hospitalized

Colombo (News 1st); Two farmers engaged in a fast unto death campaign in Walsapugala, Hambantota were hospitalized today.

Locals from Walsapugala, Hambantota are demanding the Proposed Wild Elephant Management Reserve in Hambantota, be included in the government gazette. On Monday (18) locals from Walsapugala, Hambantota decided to take to the streets demanding the Proposed Wild Elephant Management Reserve in Hambantota, be included in the government gazette. The Walsapugala village in Hambantota is a village in the frontlines of the Human-Elephant conflict, and for many years the people in this village have been living in fear for their lives. The Proposed Wild Elephant Management Reserve in Hambantota will be included in the government gazette in the near future, said Minister Namal Rajapaksa on Tuesday (19). If the Proposed Wild Elephant Management Reserve in Hambantota does not go ahead, it would be a great injustice to the farming community said Namal Rajapaksa adding it could also pose a threat to the wild elephants as well. On Thursday (21), Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa said a new plan has been formulated to set-up a new managed elephant reserve in Sooriyawewa. “We have asked the regulations to be given to us in a couple of weeks,” the minister said on Thursday. The manager of the Mayurapura division of the Mahaweli Authority requested farmers to end the fast by promising that the problem would be resolved through a gazette notification within a month. However, the protesters refused to accept the undertaking and insisted that the protest would be called off once the problem is resolved.