Cabinet approval has been granted to a proposal by the Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation to make the Narangala mountain range a sanctuary.

The mountain range, which lies in the Badulla District 1450m above sea level is home to over a 100 springs, which provides water for rivers and fulfills the water necessities of villages situated down the rivers.

Hence, the 239,276 hectares upon which the mountain range is situated would be made into a sanctuary and any private land or land owned by the Janatha Estates Development Board would be expropriated accordingly.