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Elephant-train collision triggers renewed demand for speed restrictions and safety measures

Published

1 year ago

2024/10/19

Two wild elephants were killed and several others injured when a train, transporting fuel, colliding with a herd of elephants, and derailed between the Hingurakgoda and Gal Oya railway stations. The incident took place around 3.10 a.m. on Friday (18).

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The failure of the Department of Wildlife Conservation and Sri Lanka Railways to reach an agreement on measures to reduce elephant-train collisions has resulted in numerous elephant fatalities, waste of hundreds of thousands of litres of fuel, and significant damage to railway tracks, Supun Lahiru Prakash, Director of the Biodiversity Conservation and Research Circle (BCRC) says.

Speaking to The Island on Friday (18), in the wake of two elephants deaths, and waste of about 100,000 litres of petrol due to an accident where a herd of elephants collided with a cargo train, between Hingurakgoda and Gal Oya, Prakash said no meaningful action had been taken to prevent such mishaps.

The accident occurred around 3:10 a.m. on 18 October while the train was travelling from the Kolonnawa Petroleum Storage Terminal, in Colombo, to Batticaloa, according to the Railway Department. As a result of the collision, four fuel tankers derailed, causing significant damage to the railway tracks.

Train services on the Colombo-Batticaloa main line have been suspended due to the extensive damage.

M.W. Jayalath, the engine driver, told reporters that they had left Gal Oya at 2:54 a.m., and the accident took place around 3:10 a.m.

“Suddenly, a herd of about 20 elephants entered the track. There was no time to stop. This train was carrying three petrol and five diesel tankers, each holding about 50,000 litres of fuel. The fuel from two tanks was spilled,” he said.

Jayalath explained that the track was severely damaged, and it could take around 48 hours for train services to resume.

A local resident stated that the accident occurred near a well-known elephant crossing. “This is where elephants cross to travel between Minneriya Tank and Kaudulla National Park,” he told journalists.

Chaminda Kumara, Park Warden at Minneriya National Park, noted that trains have been instructed to travel at around 20 kilometres per hour in this area. However, based on the accident, it was evident the train was travelling at a much higher speed.

“We conducted workshops for engine drivers to educate them on avoiding collisions with elephants, but it seems lessons are not being learned,” he said.

The Railway Department stated that Wildlife officials have claimed the train was travelling at around 80 kilometres per hour. An inquiry is being conducted, according to Additional General Manager of Railways (Operations), V.S. Polwattage.

“This train has a 50-year-old engine, which used to transport around nine fuel tankers, but now only eight. This is a hilly route, and it is not feasible to travel at very low speeds with such old engines. We have considered all factors and have recommended speed limits. Teams have been dispatched to repair the track,” Polwattage said.

In 2018, six elephants were killed when they were struck by the same train at the 127-mile post on the Colombo-Gal Oya railway line near Puwakpitiya, Habarana. Three fuel tankers derailed, and the track was severely damaged.

Commenting on the ongoing conflict between the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Railway Department, Supun Lahiru Prakash stated that many elephants die each year from train collisions. “We only seem to be concerned when a major accident occurs. These incidents have been happening for decades, yet the two Departments have not come together to find a solution. The most effective way to reduce these tragedies is to lower train speeds. However, if we conduct a systematic study, we should be able to identify specific areas where trains must slow down. The last study we conducted was in 2018, and much has changed over the past six years,” he said.

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Advisory for Heavy Rain issued for the Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts

Published

6 hours ago

2026/02/22

Priyan

Advisory for Heavy Rain Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 08.30 a.m. on 22 February 2026 valid for the period until 08.30 a.m. 23 February 2026

Due to the influence of the low level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Therefore, general public is advised to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by heavy rain, strong winds and lightning during thundershowers

News

Matara Festival for the Arts’ inaugurated by the Prime Minister

Published

12 hours ago

2026/02/22

Priyan

The inaugural ceremony of the Matara Festival for the Arts, featuring a wide range of creations by local and international artists, was held on February 19 at the Old High Court premises of the Matara Fort, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The festival, centred around the Old High Court premises in Matara and the auditorium of the Matara District Secretariat, will be open to the public from 20 to 23 of February. The festival will be featured by visual art exhibitions, short film screenings, Kala Pola, and a series of workshops conducted by experts.

The inaugural event was attended by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Ms. Saroja Paulraj, along with artists, guests, and a large number of schoolchildren.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

News

Only single MP refuses salary as Parliament details pays and allowances

Published

16 hours ago

2026/02/22

Thilina Walpola

SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilake is the only MP to forego salary and allowances, with all payments suspended following his written notification on August 20, 2025.

Only one Member of Parliament has chosen not to receive the salaries and allowances entitled to MPs, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya revealed in Parliament last Thursday, shedding light on the financial perks enjoyed by members of the Tenth Parliament.

Speaking on Thursday (Feb. 19) in response to a question from SJB Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri, the Prime Minister outlined the full range of pay and allowances provided to parliamentarians.

According to Dr. Amarasuriya, MPs receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 54,285, an entertainment allowance of Rs. 1,000, and a driver’s allowance of Rs. 3,500—though MPs provided with a driver through the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs are not eligible for the driver’s allowance.

Additional benefits include a telephone allowance of Rs. 50,000, a transport allowance of Rs. 15,000, and an office allowance of Rs. 100,000. MPs are also paid a daily sitting allowance of Rs. 2,500 for attending parliamentary sessions, with an additional Rs. 2,500 per day for participation in parliamentary sittings and Rs. 2,500 per day as a committee allowance.

Committee meetings held on non-parliament sitting days also attract Rs. 2,500 per day.

Fuel allowances are provided based on the distance between an MP’s electoral district and Parliament. National List MPs are entitled to a monthly allocation equivalent to 419.76 litres of diesel at the market price on the first day of each month.

Despite the comprehensive benefits, only SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka has opted not to draw a salary or allowances. Dr. Amarasuriya said that in accordance with a written notification submitted by MP Wasalathilaka on August 20, 2025, payments have been suspended since that date.

The Prime Minister also confirmed that she, along with the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, committee chairs, ministers, deputy ministers, the Opposition Leader, and senior opposition whips, have all informed the Secretary-General of Parliament in writing that they will not claim the fuel allowance.

Challenging the ruling party’s voluntary pledge to forgo salaries, MP Wijesiri pointed out that all MPs except Wasalathilaka continue to receive their salaries and allowances. “On one hand you speak about the people’s mandate, which is good. But the mandate also included people who said they would voluntarily serve in this Parliament without salaries. Today we have been able to prove, Hon. Speaker, that except for one SJB MP, the other 224 Members are drawing parliamentary salaries,” he said.

The Prime Minister responded by defending the political culture and practice of allocating portions of MPs’ salaries to party funds. Referring to previous practices by the JVP and NPP, she said: “It is no secret to the country that the JVP has for a long time not personally taken MPs’ salaries or any allowances. I think the entire country knows that these go to a party fund. That is not new, nor is it something special to mention. The NPP operates in the same way. That too is not new; it is the culture of our political movement.”

When MP Wijesiri posed a supplementary question asking whether diverting salaries to party funds was an indirect method of taking care of MPs, Dr. Amarasuriya said: “There is no issue there. No question was raised; the Member made a statement. What we have seen throughout this week is an inability to understand our political culture and practice, and a clash with decisions taken by political movements that misused public funds. What is coming out is a certain mindset. That is why there is such an effort to find fault with the 159. None of these facts are new to people. He did not ask a question, so I have nothing to answer.”

The disclosures come days after the Government moved to abolish the parliamentary pension, a measure that has sparked renewed debate over MP compensation and the transparency of funds allocation.