Colombo, Oct. 21 (Daily Mirror) - The expert committee appointed to investigate the death of tusker Kawanthissa and formulate a National Elephant Conservation Programme held its first meeting at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (21).
The meeting was chaired by Presidential Chief of Staff Prabath Chandrakeerthi.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake appointed the committee to investigate all aspects of Kawanthissa’s death in the Siyambalangamuwa area of Galgamuwa on or around October 16, 2026, develop standard operating procedures for the welfare of wild elephants and recommend a national programme for elephant conservation.
The committee discussed the circumstances surrounding the elephant’s death, the nature of its injuries and the intervention by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
It also discussed developing science-based standard operating procedures to ensure prompt action in similar situations in the future.
The meeting further considered establishing a Rapid Response Veterinary Unit to provide timely treatment and assistance to injured elephants in the field. It was decided to seek the support of local and foreign experts for the initiative.
Those present included committee coordinator and Additional Secretary to the President W. W. Harrison, former Ministry Secretary A. H. Sarath Wijesinghe, and members Professor T. Saminda Fernando, Professor P. G. Anil Pushpakumara, Professor U. K. Kalinga Padmalal, Dr Jagath Gunawardena and Attorney-at-Law Charaka Jayaratne.