• 683,000 litres of water supplied to wildlife 

Around 300 hectares (ha) of forest have been damaged by wildfires amid the dry weather conditions caused by El Niño, with authorities also reporting an increase in wild elephants entering villages in search of food and water, Environment Minister Dr Dammika Patabendi said.

Making a statement in Parliament yesterday (10), he said around 90 to 100 forest fire incidents had been reported during the drought, prompting intervention by the Forest Conservation Department.

Following these interventions, the extent of forest damage caused by the fires was estimated at around 300 ha, he said.

“We have requested the public not to engage in activities such as burning straw during the harvesting season. The public can report illegal forest fires and other forest-related offences to the Forest Protection Unit through the 1995 hotline,” Patabendi said.

He said the Environment Ministry and the Wildlife Conservation Department had also launched a special programme to address the impact of the drought on wildlife.

“Under the programme, steps have been taken to provide water for animals in the Wilpattu, Yala, Bundala, Udawalawe and Kumana National Parks. Around 683,000 litres of water had been supplied to forests during the recent period to ensure that wild animals have access to water sources during the dry spell,” he said.

He added that no wildlife deaths had so far been reported due to the shortage of water. However, an increase in the number of wild elephants entering villages had been observed as animals moved in search of water and food.

“We have also been monitoring the wildlife zones under these conditions,” Dr Patabendi said, adding that changes had been observed in coral reefs in the sea areas of Kayankerni and Pasikudah.

“Interventions have already been made in response to this situation,” he said.