Another major project under the environmental conservation program jointly implemented by the Ministry of Environment and the "Clean Sri Lanka" initiative was launched on 10th October in Karuwalagaswewa, Thabbowa Tank, in the Puttalam district.

The primary objective of this program was to provide a sustainable solution to the severe problem Sri Lanka faces concerning human-elephant conflicts. Ahead of this goal, it is rolled out as a national program under the theme "Towards a sustainable solution beyond elephant fence."

As the main task of this national program, the creation of elephant friendly ecosystems and the establishment of elephant conservation zones have been identified. As the inaugural step, invasive plants such as Japanese Jabara and Kalapu Andara, which have invaded the Thabbowa tank area, were removed. Close to a thousand people contributed to this voluntary work, including officers from the tri-forces, Sri Lanka Police, civil defense personnel, local youth, environmental field officers, and school students.

Under this program, it is expected to restore the degraded tank ecosystem within the wildlife sanctuary and strengthen the process by implementing a mechanism through village committees at the divisional secretary level.

In parallel with this program, under the leadership of the Department of Irrigation, boundary marking of Thabbowa tank was carried out; the removal of invasive plants is undertaken in the Galwila Environmental Park belonging to the Forest Conservation Department, along with a community based development program held within the park. Furthermore, in the coming days, plans include the renovation of the Elaris and Anatha tanks in the Wanathawilluwa area, removal of forest along the elephant electric fence on both sides of Karuwalagaswewa, and clearing the road along the electric fence in Wanathawilluwa.

For the inaugural event of this program organized jointly by the Ministry of Environment and "Clean Sri Lanka" Secretariat, the Minister of Environment Dr. Dhammika Patabandi, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Dr. Chandana Aberathna, Deputy Minister of Environment Hon.Anton Jayakody, Puttalam district Members of Parliament, Director (Social) Mr. Kapila Senarath, Director (Environmental) Mr. Anjula Premarathna, Director (Information Technology) Mr. Isuru Anuradha of the "Clean Sri Lanka" Secretariat, Puttalam District Secretary, Additional District Secretary, Divisional Secretaries, and a group of government officials were present.