News
Train-jumbo crashes cost 53 elephant lives from 2020 – 24
A shocking total of 53 elephants have died and 17 more have been injured in train collisions across Sri Lanka between 2020 and 2024, it was revealed at a recent meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (COPA), parliamentary sources said on Friday.
The figures emerged during a session chaired by MP Aravinda Senaratne to review the 2023 Auditor General’s report and the current performance of the Sri Lanka Railways Department.
Despite a 2018 survey that identified key elephant crossings along railway lines, officials admitted there has been no meaningful reduction in fatal collisions. On the contrary, the crisis appears to be escalating.
Officials from the Department of Railways told the committee that nearly 200 elephants are now estimated to roam near railway tracks on a daily basis, significantly increasing the risk of fatal encounters.
While some short-term fixes have been implemented, officials confirmed that discussions are ongoing with the Department of Wildlife Conservation to develop long-term solutions.
The committee emphasised the urgency of the issue, noting that the 2018 survey —which ran from October 11 to 15 that year—had pinpointed high-risk zones. However, six years on, elephants continue to die in preventable accidents.
COPA members in attendance included State Ministers Major General (Retd.) Aruna Jayasekera and Sugath Thilakaratne, along with MPs Chandana Sooriyaarachchi, Oshani Umanga, Dinindu Saman Hennayake, T.K. Jayasundara, Ruwanthilaka Jayakodi, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, Ajantha Gammaddage, Susantha Kumara Navarathna, and Lal Premanath. Several senior government officials were also present.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
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