The expert committee appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to investigate the death of Sri Lankan tusker Kawanthissa held its first meeting at the Presidential Secretariat today (21).
According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the meeting was held under the patronage of Presidential Chief of Staff Prabath Chandrakeerthi.
The committee was appointed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Kawanthissa, who died on or around October 16, 2026, in the Siyambalangamuwa area of Galgamuwa.
The committee has also been tasked with developing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the welfare of wild elephants and submitting recommendations for a national elephant conservation programme.
During the meeting, discussions focused on the cause of Kawanthissa’s death, the nature of the injuries sustained by the tusker and the involvement of the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
The committee also discussed developing scientifically based procedures to ensure prompt action in similar incidents in the future.
According to the PMD, discussions were held on establishing a Rapid Response Veterinary Unit to provide immediate veterinary assistance to wild elephants in the field.
It was also decided to seek the assistance of local and international experts in developing the proposed conservation measures.
The meeting was attended by Expert Committee Chairman A. H. Sarath Wijesinghe, Committee Coordinator W. W. Harrison and other members, including academics, wildlife experts and legal professionals. (Newswire)
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