Ceylinco Insurance way of reducing human- elephant conflict

Ceylinco Insurance recently took an innovative step to introduce an insurance policy aimed at minimising the human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka.

It is being done in conjunction with the University of Colombo, the University of Peradeniya and the Virje University of the Netherlands.

The concept was developed by the three universities, using years of research and supported technically by Ceylinco Insurance. The new policy, -- Hasthi Uvaduru Rakawaranaya -- will be instrumental in lessening the ‘conflict;’ in the island and will rehabilitate farmers and individuals, whose lives and livelihoods are at risk.

It will focus on conserving elephants and safeguarding their habitats.

The new policy brings many benefits to farmers and their families, including a cover of Rs.200,000 in the event of the death or permanent disablement of the insured due to an elephant attack, a cover of Rs.50,000 in the event of the death or permanent disablement of the spouse due to an elephant attack, a cover for the secondary and tertiary education of the insured’s children, a cover of up to Rs.20,000 to compensate damages to the crops of the insured due to an elephant attack and a cover of up to Rs.25,000 to compensate damages to the insured’s home due to an elephant attack.

The profits of the scheme will be reviewed annually and 20% from that will be channelled towards elephant conservation activities recommended by community organisations. “The Hasthi Uvaduru Rakawaranaya is expected to avoid 150 elephant deaths annually, due to the actions taken by farmers, while reducing poverty in Human – Elephant Conflict areas,” Ceylinco said in a statement. The launch of the new policy was attended by several dignitaries, including Minister for Estate Infrastructure and Livestock Development C B Rathnayake, Chairman of Ceylinco Consolidated Dr. Lalith Kotelawala, and several other elephant conservation expets, including Professor S W Kotagama and Dr Prithiviraj Fernando.