An artist’s impression of elephants using the tunnel to cross the track.
As the first step in the national initiative to reduce train collisions with wild elephants, the construction of the first wildlife tunnel to be built under a railway line in the country was started on March 1 in Galgamuwa-Gatadivula-Kasikote under the leadership of Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena.
Following several discussions with institutions and organisations including the Ministry of Transport and Highways, the Sri Lanka Railway Department and the National Movement for the Protection of Railways, these special measures have been taken to prevent elephants from getting into danger while crossing this railway line.
This wildlife tunnel will be built under the railway line in Kasikote, Gadadivula region between Ambanpola and Galgamuwa railway stations, where the largest number of elephants have died due to train collisions in the past few years and between 150-200 wild elephants regularly travel along the railway line.
A preliminary decision was made to build this wildlife tunnel under the Mahawa-Omanthai railway renovation project under Indian loan assistance.
Ven. Pahiyangala Ananda Sagara Thera, President of Surakimu Lanka Foundation said in his Anusasana that this would be a historic occasion. “The Kasikote tunnel, the construction of which is starting today, is the first wildlife tunnel in Sri Lanka. Humans are inseparable from wildlife. Conflicts arise when this equilibrium changes.
Ven. Pahiyangala Ananda
Sagara Thera
The wildlife tunnel started by the Ministry of Transport can be considered as a very unique concept. It is a valuable decision for both wildlife and humans. Elephants cross whatever obstacles exist in their familiar route. Many people see this as a development project, but I see it as a great meritorious deed. At this place alone, more than eight elephants have been killed by the train. This is no longer something that we can tolerate. Minister Dr. Gunawardena fulfilled his responsibility efficiently and responded in a very short time to the letters sent to him about this. The Secretary of the Ministry also gave the necessary support to do everything that could be done very practically.
Responsibility
For years we searched for answers to the elephant-human conflict. But the Ministry of Transport has accepted that responsibility and come forward to provide a solution at a huge cost. But like humans, these animals also need to live. Also, tourists come here to see wild animals including elephants. Among the world’s elephant species, the most beautiful Asian elephant can be observed very closely in Sri Lanka. It has become popular among tourists from all over the world. Sri Lankan elephants have become a special symbol that the world recognises Sri Lanka.
Elephants are an asset to our economy. The people of this area, where a huge number of elephants hang around at the same time, have the ability to earn a lot of income by providing the necessary facilities to tourists to see the elephants. People in rural areas of countries like India earn a lot of money from such programs. This area itself can be developed as a tourist area. By naming the surrounding area of over 900 acres as a sanctuary belonging to the Department of Forest Conservation, the necessary facilities can be provided for that. According to the current development plan, the train will be moving towards Anuradhapura at a speed of over one hundred kilometres per hour by the month of Poson.
If a train traveling at such speed collides with a herd of elephants, a huge destruction can occur. Therefore, the construction of this wildlife tunnel is a very practical and timely action. Our thanks go to Minister Dr. Gunawardena, who is very proactive in taking such a course of action.”
Minister Dr. Gunawardena who addressed the gathering said: “This program can be introduced as the first opportunity to get a chance to correct environmental damage that occurs when development projects are underway in the country. Many countries accept that they cannot pursue development alone.
Environment
The world has created a concept called sustainable development, which preserves the environment for future generations and uses the scarce resources of a country more effectively and efficiently in such a way as to minimise environmental damage.
There has been a conversation around the world about how to secure natural resources for all future generations and improve the quality of life of the people. Special attention has been paid to the situation where the people cannot live due to weather and Climate Change.
Sri Lanka is feeling the pressure in that situation more than ever before. In the past four years, Sri Lanka’s infrastructure such as roads, electricity, irrigation, and so on has suffered massive destruction due to natural damage such as floods.
An even more severe drought has occurred these days. It is the responsibility of every Government to take care of this environmental factor. But for a long time, there has been no agreement to reach a balanced dialogue about the Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) in our country.
But environmental organisations such as the Surakimu Sri Lanka organisation continue to raise their voice regarding the future of this country, the environment, the importance of protecting the environment, and so on. Obstacles to the practical implementation of those activities arise due to various reasons. But when we met the representatives of environmental organisations including Ven. Ananda Thera, they focused on the existing problems without actions such as agitations and gave us a promise to give the best possible contribution to take every possible action.
Crisis
For seventy-six years, we have tried to find solutions to the problems by forming various committees. As a result of that, none of the Governments in the country had enough income to run on a daily basis. Above all, the truth that we should all accept is that all development activities have been done through borrowing both domestically and abroad. As a country, we have faced a huge crisis due to continuous non-payment of loans.
Even under that situation, Rs.30, 000 million has been given to this railway modernisation project under the Indian loan scheme. Since 2014, seven Ministers have been in charge of transport, but none of them was able to start the project. As a minister I am not afraid to make decisions.
As the first phase of the modernisation of the Northern railway line, the track from Anuradhapura to Omanthai was completed in five months in such a way that trains can run at a speed of 100 km per hour. We are working to complete the construction of the second phase from Mahawa to Anuradhapura before Poson Poya. Then, after 110 years, passengers will have the opportunity to travel to and from Jaffna/KKS at a speed of 100 kilometres per hour. Accordingly, the travel time from Jaffna to Colombo will be reduced to five and a half hours.
The loans taken for many decades have to be repaid by the future generations. Thus we have to pay back US$ 36 billion. In order to save the country from this situation, there has been a long dialogue between lender countries and multilateral agencies. Accordingly, arrangements have been made with organisations such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Monetary Fund and other friendly countries for the payment of the debt. We have to comply with those agreements. Although the country is in a very difficult situation, I am happy that the money obtained as a loan can be used for the noble purpose of protecting human and animal lives as well as for improving the living conditions of the people.
Also, the station plaza concept has been included in the previous Budget proposals to better manage the huge amount of land owned by the Railway department and use it for effective investments. Under it, the process of providing a railway station or land at any place for effective investment under long-term lease basis without transfer of ownership will be started in a few weeks.”
