Environment Ministry calls for CID probe into elephant shootings

Colombo, July 23 (Daily Mirror) -The Ministry of Environment has requested the Sri Lanka Police to launch a special investigation into the recent spate of wild elephant deaths caused by gunshot wounds, urging strong legal action against those responsible.

In a letter to Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasuriya, Environment Ministry Secretary K.R. Uduwawala has called for the Criminal Investigation Dipartment (CID) to take over the case, following a report from the Director General of Wildlife regarding four elephant carcasses found in the Digampathaha and Galgamuwa areas of Sigiriya.

The Ministry raised alarm over a growing trend of elephants being shot at, allegedly by poachers, illegal gun owners or farmers living near protected forests. The secretary said such incidents are becoming alarmingly routine across all elephant-range areas in the country.

"The Asian elephant is a legally protected species and a key attraction for tourism in Sri Lanka. Repeated shootings not only endanger our biodiversity but also damage the country’s international reputation," the letter stated.

The secretary also urged the Police Special Task Force (STF) to conduct search operations to locate and seize illegal firearms in regions where wild elephants roam freely.

Wildlife officials on Tuesday reported that four wild elephants were recently found dead with gunshot wounds in the Digampathaha and Galgamuwa areas.