The Sri Lanka Navy seized three Indian fishing boats and apprehended 10 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, during a special operation conducted in the sea area north of Mannar and off the Delft Island in the dark hours of 19 Feb 25.

The Indian fishing boat, together with 04 fishermen aboard, held by the North Central Naval Command was brought to the Talaimannar Pier and they will be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mannar for legal action. Meanwhile the 02 Indian fishing boats and 06 fishermen held by the Northern Naval Command were brought to the Kankesanthurai Harbour and they will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for legal proceedings.

Including the recent operation, the Navy has held 13 Indian fishing boats and apprehended 99 Indian fishermen for poaching in Sri Lankan waters, thus far in 2025.

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal submitted by the Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody to proceed with the establishment of two solar power plants capable of producing 50 megawatts and 70 megawatts at Sampur, Trincomalee, as a joint venture between Sri Lanka and India.

Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, said yesterday (20) that an agreement had been reached between the governments of Sri Lanka and India to set up those solar power plants in two phases—50 megawatts in the first stage and 70 megawatts in the second stage. The project will be undertaken as a joint venture between the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and India’s National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) under a construction, ownership, and operation model.

He noted that the proposed 50 MW solar power project would be implemented by Trincomalee Power Company Ltd, a partnership between the CEB and NTPC to develop the previously planned coal power project at Sampur.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal to take the necessary steps to advance the project’s implementation, the Cabinet Spokesman said.

by Ifham Nizam

Six elephants including three calves died when they were hit by a speeding train in Gal Oya on Wednesday night. Acting Wildlife Director General Ranjan Marasinghe emphasised the need to adopt measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.

“This is a huge loss to our wildlife. Six elephants were killed in a single accident, which highlights the growing threat posed by railway tracks running through elephant habitats. Our teams are on the ground assessing the situation and working on measures to prevent further incidents.”

According to preliminary reports, a herd of seven elephants was crossing the railway track when a passenger train struck them. Despite warnings and past incidents in similar areas, elephant-train collisions remain a pressing issue in Sri Lanka, where wildlife corridors intersect with railway lines.

Local authorities, along with wildlife officers, responded immediately to the scene.

Marasinghe stressed the need for increased collaboration between the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Sri Lanka Railway Department. “We must find long-term solutions, including warning systems, speed restrictions in high-risk areas, and improved elephant crossings to prevent such heartbreaking incidents,” he said.

Wildlife conservationists and environmental activists have long called for advanced technologies such as thermal cameras, sensor-based alert systems, and designated wildlife corridors to protect elephants from railway accidents.

In light of the tragedy, the Wildlife Department is urging residents, train operators, and authorities to work together in reporting elephant movements and ensuring safety precautions are followed.

“We are committed to protecting Sri Lanka’s wildlife, but we need the cooperation of all stakeholders. This incident should serve as a wake-up call for immediate and effective action,” Marasinghe added.

Sri Lanka, home to one of the largest populations of Asian elephants, has been facing increasing human-elephant conflicts due to habitat loss and infrastructural expansion. Conservationists stress that unless urgent steps are taken, similar incidents will continue to occur.