Sri Lanka, July 27 -- A new fleet of vehicles allocated to the Department of Wildlife Conservation to support field operations and Human-Elephant Conflict management was officially handed over today (27).

The Government has approved the procurement of 294 vehicles for officers attached to Range Wildlife Offices and Beat Offices across the country to enhance their day-to-day operations.

As the first phase of the programme, 181 vehicles were symbolically handed over at the Department of Wildlife Conservation premises under the patronage of Minister of Environment Dr. Dhammika Patabendi.

The fleet comprises 16 double cabs and 165 motorcycles, procured at a cost of nearly Rs. 2 billion.

According to the Department of Wildlife Conservation...