More wildlife rangers

Chamikara Weerasinghe

The Environment and Natural Resources Ministry has appointed 110 wildlife rangers.

The new rangers, also known as as Wana Jeevi Niyamakas will be deployed to North and Eastern Provinces to protect the country's national parks, Minister Champika Ranawaka said.

Letters of appointment to the new recruits was handed over at the Central Environment Authority, Battaramulla yesterday.

There were 225 vacancies for wildlife rangers with the Department of Wildlife Conservation of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, before the new rangers were recruited.

Ranawaka said the new recruits will be given a three months' basic training at the Wildlife Department's training centre before they are placed on their duties.

He said action will be taken to construct a new Wildlife headquarters next year.

He said there are 20 national parks in the country covering an area of 1,200,000 hectares and the number of recruits are scarcely enough to protect the parks.

"At least 1,200 rangers are needed to protect the parks," he added.

Moves are also under way to open Kumana, Lahugala and the Kithulana Wildlife sanctuaries.

Action will also be taken to improve wildlife activities in the Gal Oya and Maduru Oya National parks, he said.