The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Sajith Premadasa, made a special statement today stating that a group has allegedly acted to burn a wild elephant in the Mihintale Seeppukulama Ambagaha Wewa area of the Anuradhapura District, and that this is being viewed as a despicable, shameful, and inhumane act. He emphasized that all those responsible for carrying out this heinous crime must be brought before the law. He further stated that in order to prevent such criminal acts, the Department of Wildlife Conservation, led by the government, along with civil society and all citizens, must work together.
He also said that he pays his utmost respect to the wildlife veterinarians and officers who treated the injured elephant and expressed his gratitude for their service. The Opposition Leader stated that the entire country should condemn such cruel, disgraceful, and inhumane acts and that these sinful actions must be brought to an end.
He further stressed that the process of immediately bringing those involved in this vile act before the law must be enforced, and that it should be clearly demonstrated to the public that anyone who engages in such inhumane actions will be held accountable under the law. Speaking as an environmentalist, he expressed deep sorrow over this incident and pointed out that as human–elephant conflict continues to escalate in Sri Lanka, a clear and effective strategy is required to minimize it. He highlighted the need for a community-centered approach to address this issue.
Additionally, he stated that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will extend its support to a program aimed at successfully preventing human–elephant conflict and safeguarding the lives of both people and wild elephants. He emphasized the urgent need to strengthen the Department of Wildlife Conservation, which is currently suffering from a lack of resources, by providing adequate human and physical resources and implementing a national program to prevent human–elephant conflict. He also pointed out the necessity of identifying areas prone to human–elephant and human–wildlife conflict and implementing a national awareness program starting from the school level.
Finally, Mr. Sajith Premadasa stated that since the government has failed to implement a clear and effective plan to prevent human–elephant conflict, it is essential to move toward an urgent national-level action plan.
