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Between the wild jumbos and wildlife officials:

Irudeniya farmers’ future hangs in the balance

“We must leave our homes and lands and move out of the area whenever they order. All of us in Irudeniya are under wildlife regulations,” U. M. Wimalawathie 50, a widow with five children told a group of journalists who recently visited Irudeniya, a fertile valley surrounded by a ring of mountains in Popithigama in the North Western Province.

“We are like some second class citizens. We are obliged to show them whatever we bring into our houses or take to the market for selling; this is ridiculous!” she complained.

The uncertain land ownership leaves them insecure. They could not plan anything.

“Is this how the officials should treat farmers who produce tons of vegetables for the country?”


U.M. Wimalawathie of Irudeniya, elephants killed her husband 11 years ago; pressed on by the Wildlife officials and their jumbos.


.Fertile lands of Irudeniya; any vegetables would thrive there.


Wooden poles meant for electric fence being wasted just as the lives of 500 villagers of Irudeniya. Pix by Prasad Purnamal

But ever since the village was declared as a sanctuary by the Department of Wildlife Conservation in 1989, the future of 500 farmer families in the village is hanging in the balance. “It was done all of a sudden without consulting us, arbitrarily, without an iota of concern for us who have been living here for more than 30 years, growing food,” she continued.

Carrots, beetroots, radish, long beans, wing beans, and cabbage are grown here in abundance. The villagers claimed that round 25 lorry loads of beetroot were sent to the Dambulla Market every day during the harvest season.

‘’Not only that but also we are in constant fear of the wild elephants. We could be killed by the elephants or our houses would be destroyed at any moment!” Her worries reflect on her face although she forces a smile.

The roaming giants would destroy everything they have in minutes or in a few hours. “They killed my husband 11 years ago,” she lamented over the loss of her husband.

The villagers complained that although, the department had brought down wooden poles to erect an electric fence to prevent wild elephants from coming to their village, the poles are still piled up, without the fence being erected. They pointed to the piles of wooden poles.

According to Wimalawathie, the then Prime Minister late Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s government had granted permission to cultivate the lands in 1971. Still they do not have titles to the lands that they cultivate.

The villagers of Irudeniya are living in constant fear of a herd that roams into the village and vicinity at dusk. Can the Department of Wildlife Conservation invade the most fertile lands used by villagers for cultivation and without burdening anybody, is what they have been questioning since 1989.

 

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