First-ever Public Property Act changes sought over Deega Danthu’s death

• Iconic tusker Deega Danthu, who was fatally electrocuted after becoming entangled in an illegally installed high-voltage electric fence
• The post-mortem examination conducted by wildlife veterinarians concluded that the animal suffered fatal heart failure as a direct result of electrocution

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

Authorities are taking steps to invoke the Public Property Act for the first time in Sri Lanka against a suspect accused of causing the death of the iconic tusker Deega Danthu, who was fatally electrocuted after becoming entangled in an illegally installed high-voltage electric fence.  
When the magisterial inquiry into the tusker’s death was taken up before Kekirawa Magistrate Udari Gunasekara, the Galkiriyagama Police was ordered to submit a valuation report on the deceased tusker to facilitate the framing of charges under the Public Property Act against the suspect allegedly responsible for erecting the unauthorized electric fence.  
The Magistrate further ordered the police to produce the tusker’s two tusks as productions in court together with the valuation report at the next hearing.  
When the matter was called yesterday, the suspect, Upul Priyantha Bandara, an insurance company manager accused of installing the illegal electric fence, was present in court. He is currently out on bail.  
Deega Danthu, a celebrated tusker estimated to be between 45 and 50 years old and well known in the Kalawewa National Park, died on November 27, 2024, after coming into contact with a high-voltage electric fence in the Inguruwewa area of Andiyagala.  
A post-mortem examination conducted by wildlife veterinarians concluded that the animal suffered fatal heart failure as a direct result of electrocution. Investigations revealed that the electric fence had been illegally connected around the suspect’s residence and powered by a battery system designed to deliver a lethal electric charge rather than act as a conventional wildlife deterrent.  
According to the B Report submitted to court, veterinarians observed a severe internal burn injury measuring approximately one foot in length in the tusker’s trunk. Investigators also recovered a bare galvanized wire, a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply), a black 45-ampere automobile battery, and an electric cable measuring approximately 12 feet and 9 inches, which had allegedly been used to energize the fence.  
The Forest Conservator had further noted that a section of the wire appeared to have been removed in an unnatural and unsafe manner.