COLOMBO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's cabinet of Ministers 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.
Following a proposal made 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 US 1200) to Rs. 500,000 (estimated US 3,300), Karunathilleke said.
Several people are killed in Sri Lanka each year in wild elephant attacks while those living in dry zones, especially in the south also have their properties damaged in such attacks.
Since 1950, a minimum of 4,200 elephants have perished in the wild as a direct result of the conflict between man and elephants in the island country.
During the last 12 years, an estimated 1,464 elephants have been killed, while 672 humans have lost their lives in human- elephant conflicts.
