Walsapugala Farmers launch fast unto death again

COLOMBO (News 1st): It has been 50 days since farmers of Walsapugala have demanded authorities to gazette a managed wild elephant reserve in the area. The farmers have been carrying out their struggle to protect the lives of elephants and humans while lands continue to be distributed among political allies. A fast unto death campaign was launched today, after the continuous Satyagraha campaign carried out by farmers proved futile. The hunger fast launched for the first time by the president of the agrarian organization, was called off on the 23rd of January, after minister Chamal Rajapaksa visited the location and promises to provie a solution to the problem. On the 23rd of February, a month after the promise was made, the government said that cabinet approval had been granted to establish a managed wild elephant reserve. Although co-cabinet spokesperson, Minister Ramesh Pathirana said that the gazzete would be published in the coming next week, the promise had not materialised.