The pilot programme to sterilise monkeys, in a bid to address crop destruction, commences in Matale today.
The Agriculture Ministry has allocated Rs. 4.5 million for this programme, which has received the support of several veterinarians.
The monkeys are to be transported to the Wildlife Research & Training Centre in Giritale, where they will be sterilised, and later released back to the wild.
The Agriculture Ministry intends to expand the programme islandwide in the near future.
Meanwhile, commenting on his recent statement in Parliament regarding crop-destructing monkeys, Agriculture Minister K.D. Lalkantha said he had only highlighted the need to contain this menace.
Stating that environmentalists were raising concerns over the killing of monkeys, the minister said his intentions were only to contain the menace to help the livelihoods of farmers.
“I think it is good that environmentalists have engaged in this dialogue. I intended to create countrywide awareness on the matter. Now, the involvement of various parties has achieved this. All parties need to work together to find a quick solution. As by the time long-term solutions are implemented, farmers would have abandoned farming due to this menace,” he said. (Islandnews)
