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The Zoological Garden, Dehiwela records the highest income earned in one day of this year – i.e. on October 01 being the World Children’s Day.
Arrangements have been made to open the second zone of small animal habitat, animal breeding conservation and protection centre of vulnerable birds at Safari Garden, Rediyagama in the Hambantota district.
Dr. Goigodagamage Bandula has been appointed as Chairman of the Agrarian Research and Training Institute by the Minister of Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, Mahinda Amaraweera with effect from today (20). HARTI is an institute operating under this Ministry.
A progress review meeting was held in the morning today (23) at the Department of Animal production and Health chaired by the Minister of Agriculture Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Mahinda.Amaraweera. At this meeting discussions were mainly centered on the future development activities of local fresh milk industry and chicken production industry in Sri Lanka.
State Minister of Agriculture Mohan De Silva and the Director of that Department Dr.(Mrs.) K.A.C.H.A.Kothalawala also participated in the discussion at which it was revealed that although the country was achieving near self sufficiency in poultry productions, mainly chicken and egg production in the resent past, prevailing economic crisis couple with sky-rocketing prices of animal feeds and drugs, the industry was heavily affected leading to the reduction of importation of mother animals in poultry farming from 80,000 to 10,000.
Mr.Mahinda Amaraweera further stated that action would be taken to submit a Cabinet Memorandum to inform the Cabinet on the formulation of a short term, middle term and long term programme aimed at bringing the situation under control. “It is essential to increase Fresh Milk production, Eggs and Chicken production without which it will not be possible to enhance nutrition position of the people of Sri Lanka”. Therefore, the Minister stated that a programme will be lunched from this cultivation season itself to produce maize and soya locally to support animal feed production industry.
Stating further the Minister said, “we can’t be satisfied with the prevailing situation relating eggs and chicken production in Sri Lanka. Therefore, a programme has to be formulated immediately to prevent further collapsing of this bad situation. As standard of eggs and chicken production in Sri Lanka being at the highest level, we are in a position to earn dollars within a short period of 45 days if the production of the same could be increased.
The Department of Wildlife states that the wild elephant population in Sri Lanka has now been increased upto 7000.
It had been reported earlier that the number of those animals in the Island had been around 5600.
The Department of Wildlife at a discussion with the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, Mahinda Amaraweera revealed that the wild elephant population in this country has exceeded 7000 according to a recent survey finding.
However, it has been reported that the number of Tuskers in Sri Lanka has decreased. According to the Dept. of Wildlife there are only 142 Tusker within the forest in Sri Lanka.
The Media had reported recently that whereabouts of nearly 350 wild elephants roaming in and around Minneriya, Giritale and Parakrama Samudra areas were not known. The Minister enquired the truth of this news report from the Department of Wildlife.
Officials of the Department of Wildlife emphasized that a large number of wild elephants roaming in those areas emigrated to other areas in search of food as Giritale, Minneriya, Parakrama Samudra and Welipitiya were filled with water throughout this year.
Due to the emigration of wild elephants in this manner, the damages caused to the people in those areas have been increased.
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