By Sachini Madurapperuma

The National Crisis of Human-Elephant Conflict

Sri Lanka’s human-elephant conflict (HEC) has transitioned from a localized agricultural struggle into a national crisis of massive proportions. Currently, the conflict affects 131 Divisional Secretariat divisions across 19 districts, claiming the lives of hundreds of elephants and dozens of humans annually. While successive governments have promised “scientific solutions” and high-tech mitigation strategies, the situation in the Hambantota district reveals a serious betrayal of policy. Environmentalists argue that despite the “Mihikatha” policy’s promises to reduce conflict through systematic land-use studies, the current administrative actions are intensifying the struggle. By distributing critical forest land to political and business allies, the state is effectively dismantling the natural barriers that keep wildlife and human settlements separate.

Industrial Expansion in Elephant Habitats

A central point of contention is the aggressive plan to build massive solar parks within the boundaries of the Hambantota Managed Elephant Reserve (HMER). While proponents frame this as a necessary transition toward renewable energy, the placement of these projects creates an environmental paradox. Experts point out that alternative locations, such as degraded lands or non-forested areas, abound, yet the focus remains on elephant habitats. In 2025, projects that were previously suspended due to environmental concerns were abruptly resumed. This has resulted in the clearing and burning of approximately 1,000 acres of primary forest in areas such as Sinukkugala, Orukengala, and Kapapu Wewa. Companies including Dudu International, Nidhanya International, and Orion Solar are identified as key participants in this large-scale habitat destruction.

Allegations of Bribery and Legal Evasion

The resumption of these “green” initiatives is shadowed by serious allegations of corruption and the deliberate avoidance of legal safeguards. Reports suggest that five companies provided a total of 14 million LKR to influence the restart of operations, with 11 million LKR allegedly funneled through a farmers’ organization to construct a 12-kilometer “hanging” electric fence. Furthermore, to bypass the National Environmental Act, which mandates a rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for projects clearing more than one hectare or generating over 50 MW, companies are allegedly splitting their projects into smaller 10 MW “shell” units. By presenting these as individual, low-capacity projects, they evade the public hearing process and skip the comprehensive environmental oversight required by law.

The Fragmentation of Elephants’ Migratory Corridors

The loss of this specific habitat has trapped elephant populations and blocked vital migratory corridors, leading to a spike in conflict for surrounding villages. The HMER was originally designed in 2010 to function as a bridge, linking the Lunugamvehera, Udawalawe, and Bundala National Parks. However, the legally gazetted area was significantly reduced at the request of the Mahaweli Authority, leaving critical “elephant-rich” zones vulnerable to industrial solar plants and granite quarries. Today, the corridors connecting these parks are blocked by large-scale plantations and housing projects, forcing elephants to move through 20 different villages to find food and water. In the Mayurapura division alone, over 5,000 farming families now face daily threats to their lives and livelihoods.

An Administrative Vacuum and the Call for Reform

The current status of the reserve is described by activists as little more than a “signpost,” as no single agency, neither the Mahaweli Authority nor the Department of Wildlife Conservation takes full legal responsibility for its protection. This administrative vacuum creates a “no-man ‘s-land” where illegal land grabs and unauthorized industrial activity can persist without consequence. Under the Public Trust Doctrine, the state is the protector, not the owner, of these natural resources. Experts stress that the only way to resolve the conflict is to grant the HMER proper legal management authority, reopen all blocked corridors, and halt all industrial activities within these sensitive ecosystems. Failure to act ensures that Hambantota’s development remains a corridor of conflict and environmental degradation rather than a model for sustainable growth.