Environment Minister Dr Dammika Patabendi said the Government is prepared to appoint a committee of experts to formulate a scientific programme to address the human-elephant conflict (HEC).

Responding to a question raised by Opposition Parliamentarian Rohana Bandara in Parliament yesterday (19), he said the Government has already informed the Supreme Court of its intention to establish the said committee, noting the authorities have been working for nearly a year to identify long-term and scientific solutions to the issue. 

"A programme introduced in 2020 already exists, it now requires updating in line with present conditions. We, as the Government, intend to revise and modernise that programme as part of efforts to reduce daily incidents linked to the HEC."

He also said that nearly 3,500 electric fence maintenance assistants were recruited in June of last year (2025) to maintain electric fences installed in areas affected by the HEC. "In addition, 5,000 personnel from the Civil Security Department have also been attached to the Wildlife Conservation Department and deployed to conflict-prone areas. Steps have already been taken to seek permanent appointments for those personnel through the Management Services Department," he added.

Sri Lanka has recorded a steady rise in the HEC over the years, with large numbers of elephants and people dying annually. Habitat loss, forest fragmentation, cultivation near forest boundaries, and human encroachment into elephant corridors have been identified as major contributing factors.