Wilgamuwa, a remote village in the Matale district, has been plagued by wild elephants from the Wasgamuwa sanctuary for a considerable period of time.
The villagers, a community of chena cultivators or farmers, wholack even the most basic facilities are now being inconvenienced by wild elephants.
According to reports, some 2,000 houses have been destroyed, about 25 people have lost their lives, while others live in mortal terror of the animals.
During the past three days, elephants completely destroyed six houses.
With no help in sight, a few of the villagers, in desperation, started a fast-unto-death campaign, demanding a solution to their plight.
More than 2,000 persons joined in the fast unto death campaign. They have demanded that a director of the Wild Life Department visit the area; that the damaged houses be rebuilt, and that an electrified fence be set up.
Director D.L. Thawfeek from the Wayamba Zone, accompanied by the Acting Director of the Mahaweli Development Authority S. Wickremasinghe, visited the fasting villagers, but were seized by angry villagers who held them hostage until the police intervened.
In the resulting melee, a number of workers from the Wasgamuwa Park were injured, and an official had to be hospitalised.
As the situation worsened, Mr. Sumanadasa, the Pradeshiya Sabha Secretary, arrived on the scene, only to receive the same treatment. At this point, Member of Parliament Lakshman Perera turned up and he too was hassled by the mob, who then clashed with the police as well.
The mob became slightly less aggressive after the MP promised to repair the damaged houses at his own expense.
But the villagers continued to protest, saying they had not received a solution to their problem.
The villagers calmed down only after the MP promised to find a solution to their problems within a week.
However, they said they would resume their campaign on the 18th if there was still no solution to their problems by then.
The MP instructed the officials to work closely with the people. |
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