Elephants pose threat to Sri Lanka-Zimbabwe ODI

4 July 2017 08:48 am - 11 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Sri Lanka is to deploy game wardens to stop wild elephants straying onto the pitch when the country hosts Zimbabwe for a series of ODI at the Hambantota stadium.

Experts will be on hand for all three ODI games at the 35,000-capacity stadium, which is next to an elephant sanctuary, a wildlife official said.

The stadium was built in 2009 under former president Mahinda Rajapakse, who was from Hambantota, but has hosted only a handful of matches because of its remote location and high maintenance costs. “There had been a few instances when elephants broke through the fence and invaded the pitch at night,” said the official, who asked not to be named.

“A jungle patch starts about 100 metres from the stadium and we are deploying 10 wardens to make sure that fans don’t stray into that area and provoke the elephants,” he said.

He said there was a herd of about 25 elephants roaming the area, 240 kilometres (150 miles) south of Colombo, posing a potential threat to fans.It is not the first time wildlife has disrupted games at Hambantota — swarms of wasps that have taken up residence there have also caused problems. The last ODI played at Hambantota was two years ago. Following a recent refurbishment, SL Cricket scheduled the final three ODIS against Zimbabwe at Hambantota.(AFP)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 11

Srilankan Tuesday, 04 July 2017 09:19 AM

what a news?????????!!!!!! this shows the level of information steaming into the life styles of Sri Lankan's development

SHM Tuesday, 04 July 2017 09:31 AM

Probably even the elephants are fed up of our sloppy fielding but someone must tell them despite we won the last match by 7 wkts and a newcomer taking a hat-trick!

ANTON Tuesday, 04 July 2017 09:44 AM

DISPLAY A LARGE SIGN BOARD ........ " ENTRANCE ONLY FOR TAME ELEPHANTS "

ANTON Tuesday, 04 July 2017 09:46 AM

NO NEED OF PAPARE BANDS, THESE ANIMALS HAVE REAL , NATURAL TRUMPETS,

Meshach Tuesday, 04 July 2017 10:25 AM

let them invade the pitch in case we are loosing via DM Android App

Wedige Tuesday, 04 July 2017 10:37 AM

We should ask - Rajapakshes to look after them.

vadda Tuesday, 04 July 2017 01:00 PM

mahinda chinthana equals high expences low usage

Kadiya Tuesday, 04 July 2017 08:05 PM

Or give them free entrance tickets!!!

Roshitha Maidwell Tuesday, 04 July 2017 08:59 PM

People pose threat to Elephants.. , !

Patriot Wednesday, 05 July 2017 01:21 AM

Wild life Officials can set up an electric fence for elephants to avoid them entering to stadium area.

chathura Wednesday, 05 July 2017 12:53 PM

Oh.. let them come to the stadium and watch the match... protect the pitch

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Elephants pose threat to Sri Lanka-Zimbabwe ODI

Comments - 11

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

23 year old youth ends up having his testicles removed

Belgian traveller scammed in Kalutara

Confusion remains if April 15 is a bank holiday

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

MIRROR CRICKET

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

Amir, Wasim return to Pakistan national team

TODAY'S HEADLINES

100 Police personnel trained to target criminals operating on motorbikes

Catholic Church receives full report

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali’s possession of Gota’s Range Rover

We are struggling with severe shortage of staff – Excise Chief

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Security raised for Champions League ties after threat

SLA target four events at Paris Olympic Games

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win