World's longest protest on Human-Elephant conflict enters 76th day

Colombo (News 1st); For the 76th consecutive day, farmers in Walsapugala are engaged in a Satyagraha campaign demanding the Proposed Wild Elephant Management Reserve in Hambantota be included in the government gazette.

86 agrarian organizations are supporting the satyagraha campaign which was launched on the 18th of January 2021. Earlier, the leader of the movement commenced a fast unto death campaign and it was called off after Minister Chamal Rajapaksa promised to meet their demand on the 23rd of January and to solve their issue within a month. The satyagraha campaign continued as the issue remained unsolved, forcing three Walsapugala farmers to re-commence their fast unto death campaign on the 07th of March, which was later called off. In late February, the Cabinet of Ministers granted their consent for the combined resolution to publish the government gazette for the proposed Wild Elephant Management Reserve in Hambantota. However, the farmers continue to be engaged in the Satyagraha Campaign until the gazette is published by the government printer. At the same time, farmers in Mahiyanganaya are engaged in a satyagraha campaign for the 17th consecutive day demanding a solution for the human-elephant conflict. The All Ceylon Agrarian Confederation and the Mahiyanganaya Farmers Collective are engaged in this satyagraha campaign at the Mahiyanganaya town in support of the farmers from Walsapugala. The protest by the farmers in Galgamuwa also demanding a solution to the Human-Elephant conflict entered its 18th Day. This protest is also taking place in support of the Walsapugala Farmers. In addition, Friday marked the 15th consecutive day of the satyagraha campaign organized by the farmers in Medwachchiya for the same cause.