Indigenous community stages ritual against environmental destruction

COLOMBO (News1st): Indigenous Community members engaged in a special ritual seeking to stop environmental destruction in the Galwalayaya area in Pollebadde. Meanwhile, the Satyagraha launched by farmers of Mahiyangana entered its 23rd day today. These farmers have been staging the Satyagraha to support the farmers of Walsapugala, who are demanding a managed wild elephant reserve. Farmers of Walsapugala have been staging a Satyagraha for 82 days demanding authorities to gazette a managed wild elephant reserve in the area. "Animals must be allowed to inhabit these lands instead of being harmed and left without a habitat," Mahinda Samarawickrama, the President of the Walawa Left Bank United Farmers Organization said. The protest launched by farmers of Medawachchiya entered its 21st day, while farmers of Galgamuwa staged a demonstration demanding a solution to the human-elephant conflict for the 24th day today. "A scientific solution can be given to this. But the lives of the people are at risk since they have not taken measures to adopt a scientific solution," a farmer said.