🌿 682 Hectares in Galgamuwa Declared Nakolagane Sanctuary

• Overview: The Cabinet has approved the declaration of 682 hectares in the Galgamuwa Divisional Secretariat Division (Kurunegala District) as the Nakolagane Sanctuary under Section 2(2) of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. • Background & Legal Context: Around 1,500 acres of long-standing State forest land had previously been utilized by private firms for economic crops, mineral mining, and soil excavation. Environmental organizations petitioned the Supreme Court over environmental degradation and heightened human-elephant conflict. • Directives & Survey: Following Supreme Court orders to protect the area, a joint survey by the Survey Department and Department of Wildlife Conservation established the 682-hectare boundary, incorporating nearby tank supply levels with the Irrigation Department's consent.