Minister of Wildlife, Sustainable Development and Buddhasasana, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said on Thursday that Cabinet approval has been received for amending the existing Wildlife Act and accordingly, a person found guilty in a court of law, of killing an elephant or a tusker, can be sentenced to imprisonment for life.
All police officers and Wildlife officials have been empowered with additional legal powers to ensure the safety of natural and wildlife resources in Sri Lanka under the newly proposed regulations of the Wildlife Act, Minister Perera said. About 240 wild elephants die annually due to natural and human- elephant conflict in the country. To conserve wildlife resources, the services of the armed forces, police officers, and field officers of the Mahaweli Development Ministry and the Wildlife Conservation Department too would be sought in the future, the Minister informed.