News
Are NGO cooks spoiling the soup?
By Ifham Nizam
Newly appointed National Zoological Gardens Director General Shermila Rajapaksa last week assured top priority for animal welfare and if necessary, they would seek advice from international experts.
She told The Island that with regard to ailments of elephants, it was successfully handled by a native doctor -Wedamahattaya.
However, Rally for Animals Rights (RARE) Spokesperson Panchali Panapitiya claimed that elephant foot care, positive reinforcement, enrichment and modern elephant care were alien to Sri Lanka, a country that had no laws on animal welfare.
She said that in July 2021 RARE approached Steve Koyle, one of the world’s foremost captive elephant experts from the USA. He possessed 21 years of elephant care experience and underwent various training and obtained qualifications. He is known as “Steve the foot guy” in the captive elephant world community.
A zoologist qualified from Michigan State University. He is renowned for his unique elephant foot care, positive reinforcement and target training techniques. In the last six years he established the Elephant Care Unchained organization and started providing free services to elephant owners who cannot afford paid services.
He has rendered paid and voluntary foot care to elephants, training and advice to mahouts in ethical and non-ethical sanctuaries in many countries including India, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia etc.
RARE introduced him to the then Director General of Zoological Department Ishini Wickremesinghe who was delighted to receive his expert advice.
When the idea was conveyed to the mahouts and animal handling staff at Dehiwala Zoo, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and Ridiyagama they were also interested to receive training from this foreign expert in Sri Lanka. This was on a volunteer basis with no cost to the government at all.
“In September 2021, on his arrival in Sri Lanka, Ishini had resigned and there was a period with no director general and finally we introduced him to the new Director General of National Zoological Gardens Shermila Rajapaksa at a meeting at the Dehiwala Zoo in November. Disappointingly she has not yet taken any steps to receive his services to conduct foot care for the 100 elephants under her care
and provide training by him for her relevant staff,” Panapitiya said.
She added “There are many critical elephants that need foot care under her from which Elephant Devi at Dehiwala Zoo is in the worst condition. I think if the abscess on her feet is not treated immediately by the correct technique, it could result in a slow painful death to her in less than two years. Here we have brought the solution to the door step of the DG but she shows no interest.”
The American expert was also introduced to the Wildlife Minister C.B. Ratnayake in October 2021, who directed him to the President of Captive Elephant Owners Association, the Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Tooth, Nilanga Dela Bandara and even he recognised the importance and Steve’s skills and expertise and was happy to receive his services to the temple of the tooth elephant herd and endorsed and recommended him to conduct foot care and advise on enrichment to the temples and private owners in his association.
Steve has since done foot care for around 30 of the country’s most famous Captive Tuskers and Elephants at temples, with private owners and in riding camps and most of them have been very welcoming to have foot care done for their elephants. They were amazed at the tools he used. Steve even introduced simple, cost-effective enrichment methods to improve the mental wellbeing of elephants. Two famous temples are already following these methods and a riding camp elephant too.
The mahouts and owners were grateful and gave him blessings and passed on merits. He travels door to door with a translator offering his services.
He expects to reach all 104 elephants of the industry and work with captive elephant groups.
“Although RARE clash with Mr. Dela Bandara in most issues and principles we found common ground in recognising the skills of this expert and the need for footcare for our elephants by this international expert. And we must thank Mr. Bandara for that,” said Panapitiya.
Interdicted Deputy Director at the National Hospital, Sri Lanka (NHSL) Dr. Rukshan Bellana yesterday (29) alleged that the powers that be moved against him for seeking the CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption) investigation into a massive fraud at the NHSL laboratory.
Dr. Bellana said so in response to The Island query regarding the circumstances the Health Ministry interdicted him on 18 December, through a letter, as directed by the Health Committee of the Public Service (PSC) Commission. “That letter has been signed by an Additional Secretary, as Health Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe was overseas,” Dr. Bellana said.
Dr. Bellana stated that the government had paid for reagents, contaminated or close to expiry dates, obtained from a leading local medical supplier, since 2022. He emphasised that his complaint to the CIABOC, and subsequent complaint to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), were entirely based on the issues raised by the National Audit Office (NAO).
Responding to another query, Dr. Bellana said that the public funds, amounting to Rs. 900 mn, had been spent on chemical reagents past expiry dates. Regardless of the intervention made by the NAO, the NHSL continued to procure supplies from the same company, Dr. Bellana said, adding that he had received the unconditional support of the civil society. Among them were Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, President of Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA), President of Academy of Health Professionals Ravi Kumudesh, and leader of Mage Rata Sanjaya Mahawatta.
Dr. Bellana said that he had complained about the scam to the CIABOC in June this year.
Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, who also lodged a complaint with CIABOC, regarding the same matter, is on record as having said in September this year that the reagents had been procured over a three-year period without the proper approval of the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry. Dr. Sanjeewa has alleged that some of the reagents were either contaminated or close to expiry dates, while contracts had been given to a single company at unapproved prices.
Dr. Bellana said that had there been a proper system for CIABOC and law enforcement authorities to act on findings made by the NAO they wouldn’t have personally intervened in the NHSL laboratory matter. “Parliament should look into this. Did Parliament take up the NHSL laboratory matter at the relevant watchdog committee or at the Sectoral Oversight Committee that handled health?” Dr. Bellana asked.
Asked whether the letter that informed him of his interdiction gave any specific reason for the action taken, Dr. Bellana said the Ministry had found fault with him for speaking to the media. The irate ex-official said that he never hesitated to take a stand against injustice. “When former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was accused of corruption, pertaining to medical procurement, I condemned the Minister. Lambasted those responsible for wrongdoings.”
Dr. Bellana said that the NAO had dealt with mega crime involving the public and private sector. “That is the undeniable truth. Parliament should look into this as public money is its responsibility. Having vowed to stamp out corruption, the NPP was allowing and encouraging those who had been making money at the expense of the sick, Dr. Bellana said.
Dr. Bellana said that as many as 10,000 tests were conducted daily at the NHSL. The racketeers had been active during Aragalaya as the NHSL and the private supplier reached agreement in 2022 and the process continued even after the last presidential election, conducted in September 2024.
Dr. Bellana said that the long delay in finalising the Auditor General’s appointment exposed the government. If those holding high political office were genuinely interested in fighting corruption, they wouldn’t have allowed that Office of AG stay vacant even for a day.
Dr. Bellana noted the tough statements issued by the Bar Association, Transparency International Sri Lanka and the Committee on Public Finance demanding the immediate appointment of AG.
Health Ministry officials were not available for comment.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
BIA unions, including those affiliated to political parties, are demanding bonuses equal to five months’ basic salaries.
A group of workers yesterday (29) protested outside BIA urging the Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka (Private) Ltd to increase their bonuses. They claimed that the Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka (Private) Ltd., Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Harsha Abeywickrama, had assured them that they would be paid bonuses worth five times their basic salaries.
The SriLankan Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya (SLNSS) of the airport, the Podujana Sewaka Sangamaya, the Pragathishili Sewaka Sangamaya, the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya, and the SLNSS of SriLankan Airlines joined the protest.
The Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority has issued an urgent safety warning to residents living along the banks of the Kotmale Oya and the Mahaweli River, as water levels in the Kotmale Reservoir are reaching maximum capacity.
According to a special weather advisory issued by the Department of Meteorology on December 26, 2025, heavy rainfall is expected in the catchment areas over the coming days.
In response, the Mahaweli Authority released a statement on December 27, warning that spill gates may have to be opened to manage the water flow.
Eng. A.M.A.K. Seneviratne, Resident Engineer and Deputy Director of the Kotmale Reservoir, stated that the opening of spill gates would lead to a significant rise in the water levels of both the Kotmale Oya and the Mahaweli River.
Areas on Alert
Residents in the following Divisional Secretariat divisions are urged to remain extra vigilant:
• Nuwara Eliya District: Kotmale West and Kotmale East.
• Kandy District: Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Doluwa, Pasbage Korale, and Ganga Ihala Korale.
Authorities have advised the public in these low-lying and river-adjacent areas to monitor the situation closely and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety and the protection of their property.
By S.K. Samaranayake
Dr. Bellana: “I was removed as NHSL Deputy Director for exposing Rs. 900 mn fraud”
BIA unions demand bonuses equal to five months’ basic salaries
People warned of rising water levels at Kotmale reservoir
Lahore Aitchison College students visit Pakistan High Commission, Colombo
GMOA may take up Dr. Bellana’s issue at ex-co
Lakshman Balasuriya – Not just my boss but a father and a brother
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