COLOMBO : China has agreed to provide technical expertise and research support to help Sri Lanka establish bamboo bio-fences as a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to the country’s long-standing human-elephant conflict.
The agreement was reached during an official study visit by a Sri Lankan delegation led by Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakodi to the International Center for Bamboo and Rattan (ICBR) in Beijing, China.
During bilateral discussions with the Director General and senior officials of the centre, the delegation explored bamboo cultivation, advanced processing technologies, and a wide range of bamboo-based industrial products. Both sides also reaffirmed the importance of the longstanding historical, economic, and political ties between Sri Lanka and China.
Deputy Minister Jayakodi formally requested China’s support in developing bamboo bio-fences to mitigate the human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka. In response, the Chinese side expressed its willingness to provide technical expertise, best practices, and research and development (R&D) support to implement the initiative.
China noted that the project could not only offer a sustainable solution to the human-elephant conflict but also create economic opportunities for local communities through bamboo-based industries.
The initiative is expected to contribute to Sri Lanka’s green development goals by promoting an environmentally friendly approach while strengthening community livelihoods.
