Civil Defence Forces to safeguard electric fences

Civil Defence Forces (CDF) personnel will be deployed to safeguard the electric fences which prevent elephants from entering villages, Deputy Minister of Agrarian Services and Wildlife S.M. Chandrasena said.

According to the Minister, three officers will be deployed for each 1,000 metres of the electric fence. A discussion had been held in this regard between the Minister and the CDF Director General. Sri Lanka has 2,087 kilometres of electrical fence and plans are afoot to expand this by another 490 kilometres.

The CDF has already deployed 613 personnel for the security of 1,507 kilometres of this fence.

The electric fences have been installed to prevent crop damage by elephants and to save wild elephants from farmers’ attacks.