News
Elephant-train collision triggers renewed demand for speed restrictions and safety measures
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.
The Royal Navy of Oman Vessel “SADH” arrived at the Port of Colombo on a logistics replenishment visit on Tuesday (10 Feb 26). The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in
compliance with naval traditions.
The 75m – long ship is commanded by Lieutenant Commander Shaheen Saud Abdul Rahman AI Balushi.
The port call will facilitate professional interaction and goodwill exchanges between the two navies.
During the stay in Colombo, crew members of the ship are expected to visit some tourist attractions in the city of Colombo.
* New Auditor General should not have been sworn in before Speaker – Opp.
* Suspended House Dy. Sec. Gen. Chaminda Kularatne takes his case to CA today
General Secretary of the National People’s Power (NPP) Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe yesterday said that there was no need for Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne to step down in view of the complaint lodged against him with the CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption).
NPP General Secretary said so in response to The Island query whether the parliamentary group of the ruling party discussed the growing Opposition calls for the Speaker, who is also the Chairman of the Constitutional Council, to step down to facilitate the investigation.
The NPP parliamentary group consists of 159 MPs, including 18 National List (NL) members.
NL member Dr. Abeysinghe asked whether any other person, who had been investigated by the CIABOC, stepped down from his or her position to facilitate the inquiry.
The top official emphasised that the CIABOC could go ahead with its investigation without any hindrance.
Chamindra and Dr. Jagath
Opposition sources said that there hadn’t been a similar situation before and the CIABOC investigation into Speaker Dr. Wickramaratne is unprecedented as he heads the 10-member CC responsible and directly involved in all key appointments, including that of members to the CIABOC.
Sources pointed out that the newly appointed Auditor General, Ms. Samudrika Jayaratne, took the oath of secrecy before the Speaker on 5 February in Parliament after suspended Deputy General Secretary of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne complained to CIABOC.
In accordance with Section 9 of the National Audit Act, No. 19 of 2018, Jayaratne took the oath of secrecy in her capacity as the Auditor General of the National Audit Office and Chairperson of the Audit Service Commission.
Sources said that Kularatne would move the Court of Appeal today (10) against his removal at the behest of the Staff Advisory Committee, headed by the Speaker.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court yesterday (09) further remanded 10 persons, including four Buddhist monks, arrested on 19 January, 2026, for allegedly placing a Buddha statue in the coastal reservation, on 16 January.
The Buddhist monks, including Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera, and six other individuals, were further remanded until 11 February.
They have been accused of violating the Coast Conservation Act by placing a Buddha statue on a block of land belonging to the Trincomalee Bodhiraja Temple.
Of the four monks, Ven Balangoda Kassapa Thera and Ven Trincomalee Kalyanawansa Tissa Thera moved the Court of Appeal against the Magistrate’s Court decision. The case was heard on 22 January before a Bench comprising the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya, and Justice K. Priyantha Fernando.
Manohara de Silva, PC, and President’s Counsel Uditha Igalahewa, PC, appearing for the petitioners, urged the Court to take up the matter urgently, describing it as a case of exceptional importance.
However, the Court of Appeal on 3 February dismissed the petitions against the remanding of Ven Balangoda Kassapa Thera and Ven Trincomalee Kalyanawansa Tissa Thera.
The order was issued by the Court of Appeal bench consisting of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abesuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando.
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