The Department of Wildlife Conservation has recruited 229 new Wildlife Rangers, including six women, to strengthen field operations and address human-elephant conflict across Sri Lanka.
According to the Ministry of Environment, appointment letters were presented to the 229 Grade III Wildlife Rangers at a ceremony held at the Ministry premises in Battaramulla today (23), under the patronage of the Minister of Environment and with the participation of the Deputy Minister.
The new recruits comprise 223 men and six women, selected through a competitive examination and a series of interviews.
The Ministry stated that the newly appointed officers will be responsible for protecting wildlife and natural resources, preventing illegal activities in protected areas and assisting communities affected by human-elephant conflict.
Their duties will include driving wild elephants away from villages, maintaining electric fences, protecting lives and property in conflict-affected areas, and conducting raids against illegal hunting, unauthorised entry into protected areas and the setting of animal traps.
The officers will also conduct round-the-clock patrols in national parks, sanctuaries and nature reserves, while assisting in the rescue and treatment of injured or trapped wild animals.
The Ministry highlighted the importance of female officers in engaging with communities affected by human-elephant conflict, particularly women, children and families in rural areas.
Meanwhile, all 229 recruits will undergo a six-month residential training programme covering wildlife management, law enforcement, practical field skills and professional development.
The training will be conducted at wildlife training centres in Randenigala, Ritigala, Maduru Oya and Giritale.
Upon successfully completing the training programme, the officers will be appointed to permanent service and deployed for wildlife conservation duties, with particular emphasis on reducing human-elephant conflict across the country.
Ministry Secretary K. R. Uduwawala, Director General of Wildlife Conservation Ranjan Marasinghe and several senior officials attended the appointment ceremony. (Newswire)
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