Invasion of wild elephants has increased in the Kalmunai, Sainthamaruthu, Sammanthurai, Nintavur, and Addalaichenai Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the Ampara District.
Wild elephants are invading villages in search of food and water. Earlier, these elephants were entering the villages only during the night time, but now, they are entering even during the daytime, residents said.
Wild elephants have begun to invade nearby villages from the Pallakadu Jungle in Oluvil, located in the Addalaichenai Divisional Secretariat Division of the Ampara District. The jungle is located near the Deegavapi Oluvil Ashraff Nagar resettlement village, they added. People residing along the border of the divisions have also been affected by this issue. They have requested the authorities to find a solution to the issue.
Wild elephants have found their way to villages in Addalaichenai, Palamunai, Ashraff Nagar, Hira Nagar, Meelath Nagar, and Sambu Nagar. Residents are in a state of fear, they said. Wild elephants destroy not only crops and paddy fields, but also properties. As a result, the daily income of low-income families has also dropped considerably, residents added.
