CDF Personnel Deployed to Protect Paddy Warehouses from Wild Elephants

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Steps have been taken to deploy civil defense force personnel to safeguard paddy warehouses owned by the Paddy Marketing Board, amid growing threats from wild elephants.

The move comes after several incidents in recent years with wild elephants attacks on paddy storage facilities.

Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation, Susil Ranasinghe, confirmed that the Ministry of Defense has been notified about the deployment. 

Civil defense force personnel will be stationed at 27 paddy warehouses across 11 districts identified as being at risk.

Meanwhile, the Paddy Marketing Board reported that over 30,000 metric tons of paddy from this year’s Yala season have already been purchased.

Chairman of the Paddy Marketing Board, Manjula Pinnalanda added that more than 147 paddy warehouses have been opened nationwide to facilitate the sales.