Sri Lanka, Oct. 13 -- The Cabinet has approved a proposal to declare 682 hectares of land in the Galgamuwa Divisional Secretariat Division in Kurunegala as the Nakolagane Wildlife Sanctuary under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance.

The move follows a Supreme Court order directing that the entire area, including approximately 55 hectares of cleared land and the remaining forest areas, be declared a sanctuary or an elephant management reserve under Section 2(2) of the Ordinance.

The land, which spans nearly 1,500 acres, had been forested for a long period before several private companies used parts of it for commercial crop cultivation, mineral mining and soil excavation.

Several environmental organisations filed a petition with t...