The government is treating the death of Kavanthissa, the tusker fatally injured in a shooting, with due concern, Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.
Responding to questions from journalists about the handling of the elephant’s treatment by the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Jayatissa said investigations were underway to determine whether there had been delays, lapses or negligence in its treatment, as well as to identify those responsible for the shooting.
“I believe we should not challenge the knowledge of the veterinarians who were involved in this,” he said, adding that the veterinarians had made considerable efforts, as stated by the subject minister in Parliament earlier today.
Jayatissa said the investigations were aimed not only at identifying those responsible but also at preventing similar incidents in the future.
The post-mortem examination is being conducted by the veterinary department of the University of Peradeniya, which is expected to submit its findings to court, he said.
An internal inquiry is also underway, involving a committee comprising three members: the director of the National Zoological Department, the investigations director of the Ministry of Environment and a senior lecturer at the University of Peradeniya’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
Separately, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed a six-member panel of experts led by former ministry secretary Sarath Wijesinghe. The panel includes Prof. Saminda Fernando, Prof. Anil Pushpakumara, Prof. Kalinga Padmalal, Dr. Jagath Gunawardana and Attorney-at-Law Charaka Jayaratne.
The Criminal Investigation Department is also conducting a separate investigation, Jayatissa said.
Two suspects arrested in connection with the shooting have been remanded until Oct. 28. According to Jayatissa, the arrests followed information provided by members of the public to the Western Province Range Forest Office, after which the Walana Anti-Corruption Unit acted on the information.
Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the first suspect, while further items were recovered from another suspect based on information provided during the investigation, he said.
Jayatissa clarified that four other individuals arrested by the Walana Anti-Corruption Unit were not taken into custody in connection with the elephant’s death. Investigations remain ongoing.
He also acknowledged staff shortages at the Department of Wildlife Conservation, saying it had only 17 veterinarians, of whom 14 were serving in the field. The department hopes to recruit additional veterinarians, he added. (Newswire)