Despite claims that the past two years have brought prosperity, the government has failed to resolve the human-elephant conflict or secure fair prices for farmers, says Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.
He made these remarks during an inspection tour of the Wevagammana area in Lunugamwehera to evaluate the escalating human-elephant conflict.
He pointed out that the human-elephant conflict remains a severe crisis threatening both rural communities and forest resources, noting that farmers are forced to mortgage jewelry and property while borrowing at exorbitant interest rates to fund cultivation, only to face crop destruction, property damage, and loss of life.
Addressing the dual challenge of safeguarding human lives, agriculture, and elephant populations, he argued that achieving these goals simultaneously is entirely possible through community-based environmental conservation programmes that provide sustainable livelihoods for residents in affected regions.
The opposition leader stressed that electric fences must be properly maintained and national parks such as Lunugamwehera developed to attract local and international tourists, generating revenue that directly benefits local communities through people-centric wildlife development initiatives.
He asserted that the current administration must confront these challenges rather than evade them, ensuring that wildlife is protected while citizen livelihoods are simultaneously strengthened.
Broken Promises over the human-elephant conflict
Premadasa criticised the government for failing to deliver on electoral promises to resolve the crisis with the stroke of a pen, noting that governing party politicians and responsible officials are now evading the issue.
As a political party prioritising environmental conservation and human safety, he said the Samagi Jana Balawegaya advocates for a community-led environmental conservation model incorporating innovative solutions such as hanging electric fences.
Effective crop insurance scheme
He emphasised that an immediate solution to mitigate the animosity generated by the human-elephant conflict is the introduction of a formal, efficient, and productive crop insurance scheme.
Noting that the burden should not rest on farmers, he said that the government must sponsor a structured crop insurance program to provide financial relief when harvests are destroyed, criticising the current agricultural insurance framework as nominal rather than functional.
Pay attention to this crisis in 2027 Budget
Urging immediate action ahead of the upcoming 2027 budget proposals, he called for two urgent programs to protect wildlife, human lives, and agriculture.
He reiterated that despite claims of a prosperous two-year period, no tangible solutions have been delivered for the human-elephant conflict, and agricultural producers continue to struggle without fair prices for their yields.
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