By Kassapa Ellepola and Kanchana Ariyadasa

Panic and tension gripped Sigiriya yesterday after an enraged elephant trampled a man to death and destroyed six houses resulting in a massive protest by residents who blamed the Wild Life Department for not taking steps to protect their lives.

The angry residents blocked the Sigiriya-Dambulla main road for a few hours while maintaining that they would not abandon the protest until Wild Life Officials provided reasonable alternatives to the ongoing human-elephant conflict in the area.

The victim M.H. Chandrasena a father of three was trampled to death while asleep in his home at Pidurangala.

The Dambulla Provincial Secretariat R.M. Herath and the Sigiriya police were in the area attempting to calm the situation.

Provincial Secretariat said they would help the Wild Life Department in chasing the elephant and then work out some form of compensation for the people who were attacked and whose property was damaged.

Meanwhile the Polonnaruwa WLD Assistant Director said the department had deployed officers and with the help of the residents were on the lookout for the culprit elephant.He said that there was a large herd of elephants in the area and the need for an electric fence had been identified as a deterrent.

Sigiriya police said the Sigiriya-Dambulla main road was blocked during the protest.

 “This area continues to face from the elephants. It is the duty of the WLD to pay attention in resolving this matter and the police is always prepared to help,” a Sigiriya police said adding that two policeman were deployed in the search operation.