Major program to restore Kala Wewa National Park grasslands

In a landmark conservation initiative, Sri Lanka is set to embark on a large-scale program to restore the grasslands of Kala Wewa National Park, a historically rich habitat once renowned as the royal domain of elephants.

- BY IFHAM NIZAM

The three-day operation, scheduled for September 5th, 6th, and 7th, aims to completely eradicate the invasive water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), which has devastated the park’s ecosystem and driven elephants closer to human settlements.

"The Kala Wewa ecosystem is a jewel of Sri Lanka’s wildlife heritage. For decades, it has been a sanctuary for some of the country’s most iconic tuskers. This restoration project is a vital step to ensure that elephants, which bring billions of rupees to Sri Lanka through wildlife tourism, continue to thrive here, said a senior official from the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), emphasizing the urgent need to protect these national treasures.