Smart management of wildlife encroachments on agricultural lands is crucial – Lalkantha

The Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Livestock, and Irrigation, K.D. Lalkantha, said that while Sri Lanka’s public sector comprises approximately 1.5 million employees, there is a severe shortage of workers in critical sectors. He highlighted the urgent need to take measures to address wildlife-related damages but pointed out the lack of adequate wildlife and veterinary officers to effectively tackle the issue.

Speaking to the media following a discussion held at the Gannoruwa Department of Animal Production and Health, Minister Lalkantha emphasised that certain State institutions suffer from an excess of employees due to political influence, while many essential areas face acute staff shortages. Despite the large public service workforce, the constraints imposed by conditions from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have made new recruitments challenging. However, he mentioned that there is room for hiring personnel in critical service areas and assured steps have already been taken to address these shortages.

The Minister noted that the public sector faces a significant deficit of veterinarians, primarily because many professionals have shifted to the private sector or left the country.

He stressed that without recruiting staff for these essential services, it would be impossible to achieve the country’s objectives. Reflecting on past economic policies, he criticized them for deliberately weakening the public service, pointing out that agencies like the Paddy Marketing Board are now left with minimal resources, such as owning only one operational vehicle which is also in a garage.

Lalkantha also underlined the need to manage wildlife encroachments on agricultural lands. He explained that simply driving elephants away from one village often leads to problems in another, emphasising the importance of finding sustainable solutions. He remarked that challenges are the starting point for finding answers and that addressing these issues is vital for national progress.

“The co-existence of wildlife and the protection of farmers’ productivity are essential. At the same time, consumers must also benefit. As a government, we must consider all these aspects when making decisions,” the Minister concluded.

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