Sri Lanka has taken a decisive step to protect both wildlife and railway passengers with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to introduce advanced technology aimed at preventing wild elephant–train collisions.

The MoU was signed yesterday (01) at the President’s Media Centre under the patronage of Presidential Secretary Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, coordinated through the Clean Sri Lanka programme. 

The initiative is being implemented as a public‑private partnership involving the Railway Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, and Forest Conservation Department, with full financial backing from People’s Bank.

The system features three‑beam detection, passive infrared (PIR) sensors, automatic temperature sensors, and tamper alarms capable of identifying animals weighing over 20 kilograms and detecting unauthorized interference. 

Signal lights (red/yellow/green) installed on either side of railway tracks, together with a special screen inside locomotive cabs, will alert drivers to the exact location of elephants in advance.

A demonstration test was successfully conducted at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, after which a technical report was prepared. 

The pilot project will begin next month at 13 high‑risk locations where elephant accidents are frequent. A newly developed website, slps.lk, will also be launched to allow the public to monitor project progress live.

The MoU was signed by Additional General Manager of Railways P.D.S.B. Chandrasena, Director General of Wildlife Conservation M.S.L.R.P. Marasinghe, Conservator General of Forests S.C. Palamakuumbura, and People’s Bank Chairman Chandana Guniyangoda. 

Senior officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, Railway Department, Wildlife Conservation Department, Forest Conservation Department, and People’s Bank were also present. (Newswire)

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Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody announced in Parliament today that a Gazette notification on the provision of tamed elephants for peraheras will be issued shortly, formalising arrangements for their allocation to religious processions.

He made the announcement in response to a question raised by opposition MP Chamindrani Kiriella, who pointed out that a majority of elephants currently used in peraheras are between the ages of 65 and 70.

Jayakody clarified that the government has not taken any decision to stop providing elephants for peraheras or religious events.

“We have taken the necessary measures to ensure this service continues. Several court rulings required the removal of certain sections of the previous gazette. In consultation with the Ministry of Buddhasasana and subject experts, we have now prepared a new gazette. It is in its final stages and specifically addresses the provision of tamed elephants for peraheras,” he said.

The Deputy Minister’s remarks come amid ongoing discussions on regulating the use of elephants in cultural and religious events. (Newswire)

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The elephant known as Randeniya Bandara, previously referred to as the Warakagoda elephant and residing in Randeniya, Kegalle, is receiving medical treatment after being injured in a road accident in the Kurunegala–Melsiripura Omaragolla area.

According to reports, the accident occurred when the elephant was struck by a tipper truck driven recklessly and unsafely. 

The collision left the elephant seriously injured, prompting veterinarians to immediately begin primary medical treatment to stabilize its condition.

The incident has drawn concern among conservationists and the public, with prayers offered for the elephant’s recovery. (Newswire/ Image- Accident1st)

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A group of foreigners escaped unhurt after a wild elephant encounter near the entry point of the Sigiriya rock fortress. 

Video footage shows the group of four walking towards the entrance around 4.00 am when they came across the elephant. 

Acting on a warning from a security officer at the guard post, the women ran, but were chased by the animal. 

They eventually emerged unscathed, while the elephant was later seen walking away. (Newswire/ Video- Accident1st)

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A mahout and his assistant have died after being attacked by an elephant brought for the 78th Poson procession at the Sri Ubhayatilakārāma Temple in Rakwana, it was reported.

The Police said two elephants had been tied near the temple following the procession yesterday. 

On Monday morning, the mahout’s assistant led one of the elephants to the Rakwana River to provide water, when the animal suddenly turned aggressive and fatally attacked him.

Hearing the cries, the mahout rushed to the scene but was also attacked by the elephant and died on the spot.

After the incident, the elephant is reported to have run into a nearby paddy field. 

It is reported that Wildlife officers have since arrived at the location and are taking steps to tranquilize and capture the animal. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to draft a new National Action Plan for Human–Elephant Conflict Management, as Sri Lanka continues to grapple with escalating clashes between people and wild elephants.

According to the government, rapid population growth, deforestation, and expanding development projects have destroyed traditional migratory routes and habitats, intensifying the conflict across 19 districts and 134 Divisional Secretariat Divisions. 

The 2024 wild elephant census estimated the population at around 7,450, with the conflict causing significant annual losses, including human fatalities, elephant deaths, and over a thousand property damage incidents.

Although a national plan was introduced in 2020, authorities said the situation has evolved considerably, requiring a fresh framework.

The Cabinet endorsed the Environment Minister’s proposal to appoint a committee tasked with formulating a new action plan, aimed at strengthening conservation efforts while safeguarding communities. (Newswire)

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A 44‑year‑old man from Poonani has been arrested inside the Wadumuna Reserve in the Welikanda Police Division for allegedly killing an elephant with a locally‑manufactured firearm and cutting the animal into pieces.

The Police said the arrest was made on Tuesday (09) evening after officers, acting on intelligence, entered the reserve and surrounded the suspect. 

He was found in possession of a pair of elephant tusks and the firearm suspected to have been used in the killing.

Investigations have revealed that the elephant had been killed some time earlier.

The suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Polonnaruwa Magistrate’s Court . Further investigations are underway. (Newswire)

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A 54‑year‑old woman was killed and 15 others injured when a van travelling from Polonnaruwa to Dehiattakandiya collided with a wild elephant in the Bandanagala area early this morning, the Police said.

The deceased was identified as a resident of Nagamuwa, Dehiattakandiya.

According to Siripura Police, the victims were part of a group of 16 relatives from Nagasthenna who had been returning home after a pilgrimage to Polonnaruwa. The accident occurred when the van struck an elephant attempting to cross the main road.

Among the injured were a five‑year‑old child and a 10‑month‑old infant. Ten of the injured were admitted to Dehiattakandiya Hospital, while those in critical condition were transferred to Polonnaruwa General Hospital.

Police confirmed that the woman succumbed to her injuries while receiving treatment. Investigations are continuing into the incident. (Newswire)

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A major accident was narrowly avoided when a train driver and a wildlife officer acted swiftly to prevent a collision with a wild elephant crossing the tracks between Habarana and Palugaswewa.

The incident occurred as the Batticaloa–Colombo train was travelling through the area. 

Mobile phone footage captured the elephant crossing the railway line, highlighting the tense moments as the train approached.

Thanks to the driver’s quick reflexes, the train was brought under control, averting disaster. 

At the same time, a wildlife officer travelling in the engine spotted the elephant and alerted the driver, ensuring another potential accident was avoided. (Newswire)

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Wildlife officials have reported the discovery of a dead elephant in a cultivation well at Kikilige Wewa, in Lunupahichchawa village within the Medawachchiya Divisional Secretariat area.

According to Dinamina newspaper, the carcass is of a male elephant, about 7 feet tall and estimated to be around 30 years old. 

Villagers said the animal had long been suffering from a leg injury and often entered water bodies to ease its pain.

According to residents, the elephant had descended into the agricultural well and died there, with the body remaining submerged for several days before being noticed due to the stench.

The Medawachchiya Wildlife Office has launched further investigations into the incident. (Newswire/ Image- Dinamina)

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Investigations have been launched by officials of the Anuradhapura Range regarding a video showing a man setting fire to an elephant in the Mihintale Seeppukulama, Ambagahawela area.

The Department of Wildlife Conservation stated that information on the elephant’s death will be reported to the court today (17).

Issuing a statement, the department noted that the suspect who set fire to the elephant has not yet been arrested.

Officials of the Anuradhapura Range, together with officers of the Army Intelligence Service, are continuing investigations to apprehend the suspect.

The elephant, a male aged around 50–55 years and about nine feet tall, had previously been found in the same area with a gunshot wound to its front left leg. 

It had been treated by officers of the Pandulagama Veterinary Office on 14 May, 4 June, and 3 July 2025, according to the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Afterwards, no further reports were received about the elephant, though Anuradhapura Range officials continued monitoring it.

However, yesterday (16 Dec), the elephant was found collapsed on land in the Seeppukulama, Ambagahawela area, suffering from burn injuries and the earlier gunshot wound. 

Following notification by Anuradhapura wildlife officers, veterinary surgeon Madhuwanthi and staff from the Pandulagama Veterinary Office arrived and administered treatment, but the elephant died during the process. (Newswire)

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Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says all those involved in killing the elephant at Seeppukulama in Mihintale must be punished without discrimination.

In a special message on social media, Premadasa said that a group had set fire to the elephant in the Ambagaha Wewa area of Mihintale, Anuradhapura District, describing it as a vile, despicable and disgraceful act. 

He stressed that everyone responsible must be brought before the law, and that the government, the Wildlife Department, and civil society must work together to prevent such barbaric incidents.

Premadasa also paid tribute to the wildlife veterinarians and officials who treated the sick elephant, expressing gratitude for their service. He emphasized that such heinous acts must be condemned by the entire nation and stopped immediately.

He further noted that the legal process against those involved should be implemented without delay, to demonstrate that anyone committing such acts will be held accountable. As an environmentalist, he expressed sorrow over the incident, highlighting that human–elephant conflict is increasing in Sri Lanka and requires a clear, community‑based programme to minimize it.

Premadasa added that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is committed to supporting efforts to resolve the human–elephant conflict and protect both human and elephant lives. He called for strengthening the resource‑strapped Wildlife Department with adequate human and physical resources, and for implementing a national programme to prevent human–elephant conflict. He also stressed the need for a national awareness campaign starting from schools in areas where human–elephant and human–wildlife conflicts occur.

Premadasa concluded that the government has failed to implement a clear programme to prevent the human–elephant conflict, and therefore an urgent national plan must be introduced. (Newswire)

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A wild elephant was reported on the Southern Expressway close to an exit point recently.

Video footage shows the elephant walking towards oncoming vehicles, halting traffic.

Several vehicles were seen slowing down and being forced to drive away cautiously. (Newswire)

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A group of environmental activists has filed a fundamental rights petition with the Supreme Court, requesting legal action against the 67-year-old train driver involved in the incident where seven elephants were killed by the Meenagaya train in the Habarana area last February.

The petitioners have urged that the General Manager of Railways and other authorities be ordered to take disciplinary measures, pointing out that no disciplinary action has yet been taken against the train driver involved in the incident, and that he continues to remain in service.

The petition calls for a formal investigation into the elephant deaths caused by the train collision and requests that disciplinary action be taken against the train driver and other relevant staff involved in the incident.

The petition was filed by environmental activists K. Priyadarshani S.R. Adikaram, L.A.R. Chandrasantha, Anusha David, and L.V.J. Chandrasantha.

Twelve individuals have been named as respondents in the petition, including the General Manager of Railways, the Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, the Director General of Wildlife Conservation, the Minister of Environment, and the Minister of Transport.

According to the petitioners, on February 19, the Meenagaya train travelling on the Colombo–Batticaloa railway line struck seven elephants. Six elephants died at the scene, and a wounded calf later succumbed to its injuries.

The petitioners also highlight that additional elephant deaths due to train collisions occurred on March 3, May 2, and August 7 this year.

They allege that despite the rising number of elephant deaths from train collisions, both the railway authorities and the Department of Wildlife Conservation have failed to take effective preventive measures.

In 2023, there were 488 recorded elephant deaths, 24 of which were caused by train collisions. In 2024, 386 elephant deaths were recorded, with 11 attributed to train collisions.

The petitioners request the court to order the General Manager of Railways to submit a report within three months detailing the measures and actions taken to prevent the increasing number of elephant deaths.

Additionally, the petition seeks an interim order preventing train drivers who have exceeded retirement age from operating trains between Gal Oya Junction and Batticaloa Station, and between Gal Oya Junction and Trincomalee Station. (Newswire)

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The Thai government is set to hold talks with Sri Lanka next week (28) to bring back two elephants that were gifted by Thailand, following reports of poor living conditions and alleged mistreatment.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), Suchart Chomklin, wrote on his Facebook page yesterday (23) that he plans to fly urgently to Sri Lanka amid growing concerns about the welfare of the two Thai elephants, Plai Pratu Pha and Plai Srinarong.

Concerns were first raised last year by the Reclaim Thai Elephant group. The group’s coordinator, Yuwanuch Kiattiwong, together with 50 members, visited the MONRE to submit an official letter urging the government to take action over the elephants’ poor living conditions.

According to the group, the elephants, which were originally gifted by Thailand, have been forced to work excessively and deprived of proper welfare standards. The animals were reportedly kept in chains at all times and beaten. The group called for their immediate return to Thailand to ensure a better quality of life.

In his Facebook post, Suchart explained that he, PM Anutin Charnvirakul, and other Thai government agencies are closely monitoring the situation and have not ignored the issue.

Suchart stated that he had discussed the matter with PM Anutin, who approved diplomatic efforts to coordinate with all relevant agencies to bring the elephants home. However, he noted that the process may take some time.

In the meantime, Suchart, along with relevant officials and veterinarians, will travel to Sri Lanka to assess the elephants’ health and living conditions. The team will also advise local caretakers to provide proper care while diplomatic discussions continue.

The Director of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Attaphon Charoenchansa, confirmed that he will accompany Suchart on the trip.

Attaphon stated that if negotiations are successful, officials plan to follow the same model used for the return of Plai Sak Surin, another elephant previously gifted to Sri Lanka and successfully brought back to Thailand in 2023.

According to a report by The Standard, Plai Pratu Pha was the first elephant sent to Sri Lanka in 1979 when he was 12 years old. He currently resides at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth in Kandy.

Plai Srinarong was sent in 2001 together with Plai Sak Surin. While Plai Sak Surin has already been rescued and returned to Thailand, Plai Srinarong remains at an elephant shelter near the Kirivehera Temple in Kataragama. (Thaiger)

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A tense situation was reported in Samanthurai recently after a wild elephant ventured into the busy town.

People were seen running away in fear of the wild elephant, which had walked onto the main road from a by road.

The animal is later seen walking away from the main road into another by road. (Newswire)

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A young elephant calf has been reported dead in a tragic accident near the Hiriwadunna reservoir on the Dambulla–Habarana road around 3:00 am today (27).

According to reports, the young elephant calf had been struck by a prime mover (bulker) while crossing the road.

The calf, estimated to be around ten years old, had been crossing the road with a herd of wild elephants to drink water from the Hiriwadunna reservoir when the collision took place. (Newswire/ Image – Accident1st)

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Sri Lanka has launched a series of measures aimed at reducing the increasing number of collisions between trains and wild elephants, officials said.

According to the Ministry of Transport and Highways, a parliamentary discussion held on Thursday focused on implementing practical and immediate solutions to prevent such accidents. 

The meeting was led by Transport and Highways Minister Bimal Rathnayake and Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi, with participation from officials across multiple agencies, including the Department of Railways, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Department of Forest Conservation, and the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies.

The government has prioritized mitigating human-elephant conflict in its current budget and is working on integrated efforts involving railway and wildlife officers. These efforts include training train operators to identify high-risk zones during night travel in the Northern and Batticaloa regions and engaging volunteer environmental groups in the initiative.

Field-level work has already begun, including filling gaps between rail tracks in the Galloya-Hingurakgoda sector near the 141-mile post. Engineers from the University of Peradeniya are testing AI-driven devices on trains as part of pilot trials to detect elephants on tracks.

Thermal cameras, introduced by the Arthur C. Clarke Institute, will be installed on several trains over the next two months as part of a targeted research project. 

Additional long-term measures include enhancing rail ballasts in key areas to ease elephant crossings, improving visibility, maintaining these upgrades year-round, and instituting monthly reporting mechanisms by the Department of Railways. (Newswire)

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A wild elephant has reportedly been injured in a collision with a van in the Kithulkote area along the Thanamalvila–Wellawaya road early this morning. 

According to reports, the accident occurred around 05.00 am today, when the van, reportedly travelling at high speed, had struck the elephant attempting to cross the road.

CCTV footage from the area shows the elephant collapsing onto the ground due to the impact and later walking away. 

Six passengers, who were in the vehicle at the time of the incident, had not sustained serious injuries, though the vehicle was severely damaged. The passengers are residents of Monaragala and Yakkala. 

A search operation has now been launched to locate the injured elephant. (Newswire)

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In a special message in honour of World Elephant Day, marked today, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stated that Sri Lanka’s elephant population is facing serious challenges, with elephants being systematically destroyed. 

Speaking in front of a wild elephant at the Udawalawe National Park in a video message, MP Premadasa emphasized that the country must act with urgency to protect this precious resource. 

Due to the ongoing human-elephant conflict, elephants are lost on one side, while human lives and property are lost on the other. A sustainable solution to this issue has yet to be found, he said.

He further stated that the conservation strategies currently in place must be gradually implemented to manage the human-elephant conflict, adding that even in this critical moment, it is possible to manage the situation to some extent. 

He highlighted that Sri Lanka’s elephant population could be used to strengthen the country’s nature-based tourism industry, thereby improving the livelihoods of the people. He proposed that a nature-centred wildlife conservation strategy could be implemented as a means of sustainable development.

Moreover, MP Premadasa stressed that this noble resource must be protected and passed on to future generations as part of Sri Lanka’s natural heritage. 

On this World Elephant Day, he called for the nation to unite in protecting the country’s elephant population by managing the human-elephant conflict effectively. Through systematic management, human lives, property, and agriculture can be safeguarded, he said. (Newswire)

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