Sri Lanka to hike damages for elephant attacks

Sri Lanka's Cabinet on Wednesday approved to grant a higher compensation to victims of wild elephant attacks in the island country.

Cabinet spokesperson Gayantha Karunathilleke said compensations would be paid for damages caused by wild elephant attacks on individuals and properties, Xinhua reported.

Following a proposal by Wildlife Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, the government decided to increase the compensation paid for human deaths and permanent disabilities from the current Rs 200,000 (estimated $1,200) to Rs 500,000 (estimated $3,300), Karunathilleke said.

Several persons are killed in Sri Lanka each year in wild elephant attacks while those living in dry zones, especially in the south, have their properties damaged in such tusker attacks.

During the past 12 years, an estimated 1,464 elephants have been killed, while 672 persons have lost their lives in elephant attacks.

--IANS

soni/vt