Signboards to be installed along railway tracks to prevent elephant-train collisions

9 September 2025 09:26 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 11 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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Colombo, Sept. 9 (Daily Mirror) - A programme to install signboards along railway tracks to prevent elephant-train collisions was launched today (9), following the recommendations of a special parliamentary committee headed by Minister of Environment Dr. Dammika Patabendi and Minister of Civil Aviation and Highways Bimal Rathnayake.

The Environment Ministry in collaboration with its affiliated institutions, has initiated several practical measures to reduce such accidents. As part of this effort, 147 signboards featuring elephant images designed by the Elephant Rescue Foundation were officially handed over to the Department of Railways this afternoon.

The handover ceremony was attended by Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi, Environment Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody, Civil Aviation and Highways Deputy Minister Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, and officials from the Railways Department. The signs will be installed in the coming days by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Highways and the Sri Lanka Railways Department.

According to research conducted by the Centre for Environmental and Nature Studies, the signboards will be placed along railway lines with high elephant activity, including the Gal Oya–Trincomalee, Gal Oya–Batticaloa, Northern, and Mannar lines. The signs are expected to alert train drivers, particularly during night operations, to areas where elephants frequently cross.

In addition, wildlife officers and railway staff will collaborate to raise awareness among drivers and crew about high-risk collision points on forest-adjacent railway lines. Training programmes will also be conducted for train drivers and crews to enhance safety measures, while environmental groups will be engaged as volunteers in the initiative.

Further strengthening the prevention programme, a pilot project will be launched within two months to install thermal cameras introduced by the Arthur C. Clarke Institute on selected trains operating in areas with high elephant traffic.

Authorities pointed out that these measures mark an important step toward minimizing elephant-train collisions and protecting both wildlife and human lives.

Comments - 11

Animal Lover Tuesday, 09 September 2025 09:42 PM

excellent decision but ensure the boards are place at a reasonable distance prior to the crossing areas, so the TRAIN DRIVERS have time to slow down and or stop. Simply having boards displayed will serve no purpose. Another idea is reducing speeds well in advance on both sides of the tracks and educate the DRIVERS of all vehicles to adhere to the "WARNING ELEPHANTS PASSING".

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Mizaru Tuesday, 09 September 2025 10:53 PM

This will have no effect as the engine drivers sleep at night while driving the train. The best to install CCTV cameras in the locomotive cab. This will stop all the elephants getting hit by the night trains. I am a railway enthusiast and have observed this while observing train at night.

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K. Kapilan Wednesday, 10 September 2025 12:00 AM

May be teach the elephants to read??

2 3

Becky Czlapinski Wednesday, 10 September 2025 06:00 AM

Not sure how this will really help. The train engineers sure know where common elephant crossings are. If Sri Lanka is serious about maintaining elephant corridors, tracks either need to be raised above the ground or in tunnels with crossing walkways for wild life above.

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RanjithT Wednesday, 10 September 2025 06:40 AM

What waste of man power? Is it really required to spend time and money to implement activity like this? Judging by the photos at least 30 persons would have attended this tamasha and would have lasted about an hour or so which amounts to loss of 30-40 productive man hours, not taking into account the time spent on preparation. Comrades wanted publicity just like the previous guys. Instead of expensive thermal imaging cameras install two or three powerful lights in the engine to improve visibility to drivers. BTW what about some sign boards to elephants. Ha. Ha. Haaaaa.

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Djokar Wednesday, 10 September 2025 07:08 AM

They should also put boards of trains for the elephants to see, so they too can take care when crossing the tracks.

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Umar Perera Wednesday, 10 September 2025 07:58 AM

The railway already knows this and has ignored all the advice about speed limits, staying alert etc. If the signs said BEWARE OF TRAINS and elephants could read, this would work in their favour. Not for uncaring and irresponsible humans. Overpass or underpass points on the track remain the best option.

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Cassie Wednesday, 10 September 2025 08:20 AM

Elephants don't need sign boards. Drivers will tune out of signboards after a few months. Instead provide the drivers with mandatory training to be vigilant, control the speed and learn the route well so they can anticipate wildlife crossings.

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Kusal Wednesday, 10 September 2025 08:26 AM

I think the the elephants will see the signs and avoid crossing! The drivers are too boozed up to read signs.

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Andrew Fernando Wednesday, 10 September 2025 08:48 AM

Well done both Ministers and their departments. Good to see some serious efforts being taken after years of neglect by successive regimes.

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Nikita Wednesday, 10 September 2025 10:30 AM

What an idiotic proposal to spend public money. Give the train drivers a map of train track showing elephant crossing areas and also impose lower speed limits in such areas.

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