Engine driver who allegedly knocked down 7 elephants faces legal battle

Activists are seeking an order directing railway authorities to investigate all wild elephant fatalities caused by train collisions during the past 12 months 

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

Filing a Fundamental Rights petition before the Supreme Court, a group of environmental activists has sought an order calling for disciplinary and legal action against a 67-year-old engine driver who has allegedly been involved in seven separate elephant fatalities on the Batticaloa–Colombo railway line.  

Five environmental activists filed this application seeking urgent judicial intervention to address the growing number of wild elephant deaths caused by train collisions. 

The petitioners, K. Priyadharshani, S. Rajapaksa Adikaram, Auradha Ruwan Chandrashantha, Anusha David and Jayaruwan Chandrashantha have urged the Court to direct the General Manager of the Sri Lanka Railway Department to initiate a formal inquiry into these incidents. 

They allege that despite repeated collisions resulting in elephant deaths, no disciplinary measures have been taken against the driver, identified as Senarathne, who continues to operate trains along the same route.  

The activists are further seeking an order directing railway authorities to investigate all wild elephant fatalities caused by train collisions during the past 12 months and to take appropriate disciplinary or legal action against any responsible employees, including train drivers.  

In their petition, the activists stress that elephant-train collisions have become a persistent tragedy in Sri Lanka, with little effective intervention by authorities. Citing government statistics, the petition notes that in 2024, 386 elephant deaths were reported, including 11 caused by train collisions, while in 2023, 488 elephants were killed, with 24 fatalities resulting from train accidents.  

The General Manager of the Sri Lanka Railway Department, the Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Highways, the Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, and the Conservator General of Forests have been named as respondents in the petition.  

The petition was filed by Attorney-at-Law Sachintha Rodrigo and is to be supported by Senior Counsel Sandamal Rajapakse.