Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and MP Namal Rajapaksa said in parliament today (20) that it was a serious concern that no attention had been paid for a month and a half to the shooting of Kawanthissa, the elephant that died recently.
He also alleged that the shooting had taken place after firearms were issued to people.
Elaborating on the matter, he said:
“Now, we are talking about what the Ministry of Environment has done.
The issue here is that Kawanthissa was shot, and no attention was paid to the matter for a month and a half.
“We know that elephant corridors need to be cleared. Every government has been doing this from time to time.
“But who provided the guns? Your minister provided firearms and told people in parliament to shoot animals that came into their land.
Perhaps he understood the president’s remark that some people lie in Parliament.
It is like the promise made during Cyclone Ditwah that Rs. 1 million would be paid if a sheet of roofing went missing.
“However, the minister gave instructions to shoot any animal that entered people’s chenas, huts or homes, and even provided them with guns.
Now he comes here to explain how this happened and what was done…”