Wild elephants roam into village

BY JAYAWARDENE DISSANAYAKE

A herd of wild elephants had roamed into Sandanamkulama in the Maradankadawala area and caused damage to houses and crops, residents said. A woman living all alone in the house had a narrow escape when one of the jumbos pulled down a wall of the house and devoured down a stock of paddy. The owner of the house K. Dingiri Menika (75) said she had gone to her son’s house at the time of the incident. Another individual who was fast asleep on the verandah of a nearby house was awakened by the noise of the herd and ran away and escaped the jumbos. Residents said it was the first time that they faced the threat of wild elephants. They expressed concern about the lethargic attitude of the officials of the Disaster Management Unit and the Wildlife Conservators. They said no official from either department responded to their calls.