World's first model elephant conservation centres coming up here

Priyanka Kurugala

Four model elephant conservation centres will be set up in Sri Lanka by the Agrarian Service and Wildlife Ministry. The model conservation centres are a first in the world.

The centres will protect elephants and prevent the human-elephant conflict, Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S M Chandrasena said. The Horowpathana Elephant Conservation Centre will be inaugurated as the first step of the new venture by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in April this year, he said.

Addressing a press conference at the ministry on Monday, Minister Chandrasena said the Horowpathana Elephant Conservation Centre covering about 3,000 acres, will be built spending Rs 300 million.