Life style
Human – Elephant Conflict Is Rising in Sri Lanka
Driven from their original habitats, the animals are raiding crops and being killed by frightened farmers, but conservationists are piloting better ways to coexist
In Makulpotha village, 89 miles northwest of Colombo, Punchibanda woke up to the trumpet of an elephant while he was sleeping in a small wooden hut built on a tree beside his vegetable farm. Fearing that the elephant could destroy his harvest of pumpkins, melons and eggplants, Punchibanda rushed to chase it away. But he could not guard his produce, and instead lost his life.
The large bull elephant charged toward the 62-year-old, who fainted out of fear; the animal crushed him to death. Over a year later, villagers still live in fear as they struggle to protect their crops from wild elephants.
Historically, elephants and humans lived in harmony in Sri Lanka. When the farmers were done harvesting their fields, they would allow elephants to feed on the stubble. But deforestation, haphazard cultivation methods and massive development projects have led to increasing human-elephant conflict in the country. Sri Lanka has the highest number of elephant deaths caused by conflict with humans, and second-highest number of human deaths caused by elephants. In 2022 and 2023, over 800 elephants in Sri Lanka died.
In a bid to balance population density across the country, people have been relocated to areas with a high density of elephants. The animals are forced to live in protected wildlife parks that have limited resources. They venture into nearby villages looking for food and water, which leads to the destruction of crops, causing the farmers to employ violent methods to get rid of them.
In other instances, elephants would get aggressive and attack farmers. If you pluck someone who lives in a town and tell them to live in a village, they would not know how to coexist with the wildlife; they would carry the fear and treat them with aggression, said Zaineb Akbarally, vice president of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society.
People visit a sick wild elephant in Thirappane, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is home to a subspecies of endangered Asian elephants and had a population of over 5,000 elephants in 2011, according to a government survey. But Akbarally doesn’t think that s an accurate number since it is difficult to count elephants in the wild, and numbers appear to have been in decline. “We’ve pretty much lost all the elephants in the central highlands,” she said, adding that only one herd remained in the Peak Wilderness nature reserve and two elephants in Sinhraja, the country s last primary rain forest, that had previously belonged to bigger herds.
Elephants have been sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists in Sri Lanka and were considered a symbol of pride to ancient rulers, who employed them in battles. To this day, domesticated elephants play a key role in Esala Perahera, an annual Buddhist cultural and religious procession, where they carry a replica of Buddha s tooth relic (the holiest religious relic for Sri Lankan Buddhists) in a casket, caprisoned in extravagant sequin-embroidered outfits accompanied by fire performers, drummers and dancers in Kandy. However, wildlife activists allege that elephants are tortured by mahouts to perform during the procession.
Elephant populations in Sri Lanka started to fall during colonial rule as the Portuguese, Dutch and then the British captured them for export. Historical records also suggest that the British killed over 5,000 elephants in 15 years as they hunted them for sport. But after independence in 1948, as infrastructure projects started getting built in the country to provide land to the landless and reduce population density, forest cover was cleared and new farmlands were created next to the elephant habitats, which laid the ground for the current conflict.
In response, local authorities started fencing elephants inside protected wildlife parks. But two-thirds of the home ranges of wild elephants, which included their feeding, watering, mating and resting sites, lay outside these parks. This also led to overcrowding, and elephants ventured into villages. Many died of starvation or became malnourished.
Currently, there are 26 national parks in Sri Lanka, and most elephants live in the large ones such as Yala, Wilpattu, Udawalawe and Minneriya. But in a 2019 survey, conservationists found out that while humans lived in 70% of these elephant ranges, only 18.4% of the elephant ranges were in those protected parks.
Meanwhile, farmers were growing crops like sugarcane, rice and vegetables that elephants loved to eat, so they would raid and destroy the crops and knock down houses in the process. Farmers, who are often impoverished and vulnerable, tended to retaliate by shooting at them or bursting firecrackers. Between January and April of 2023, 38 elephants were shot dead in Sri Lanka, according to the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Villagers also use jaw bombs to drive elephants away. To make these, they pack gunpowder and metal scraps with fodder and hide them inside watermelons and pumpkins, which detonate when bitten. While these instantly kill smaller animals, they end up wounding large animals like elephants or shattering their jawbone so they can no longer eat or drink and suffer a slow, painful death with injuries. In 2022, as many as 55 wild elephants died due to this explosive bait.
Christy Nikson, 36, a farmer in Thikkodai village in eastern Sri Lanka, uses a small, low-voltage electric fence to guard his farm, but it offers little to no help now. Elephants are smart. When they see the fence, they cover it with dry wood, step on it, and come to our paddy fields, he said. For six to eight months every year, when water is scarce, Nikson and the villagers have to battle with elephants every single day. Elephants also know the smell of wheat flour. And they love it, Nikson said. When we have flour or roti in our kitchens, they try to enter from our backyards, try to break into our homes, and take the food using their trunks.
It is a very painful situation for low-income rural communities at the heart of this conflict, according to Akbarally. The crops are their bread and butter, it s their livelihood. Suddenly, animals come and destroy your livelihood. We haven’t given people a sense of security either, she said. If there s some sort of compensation when farmers lose their crops, it can at least mitigate the animals being shot and killed.
While the government did introduce an insurance scheme in 2013 to cover elephant damage to crops, farmers complained it was difficult to claim the funds or that the coverage was limited. Pritiviraj Fernando, chairman of the Centre for Conservation and Research, explained that it s challenging to verify crop loss caused by elephants. If a farmer is not happy with the compensation, they can even encourage elephants to come and eat the crops. So these programs are very difficult to implement, he said, adding that the situation leads to distrust between farmers and local authorities.
Sri Lanka s three decades of civil war also had an impact on conflict between humans and elephants. When the war was underway in the northern and eastern regions, it forced people to flee their homes and abandon their farmlands. With limited human activity, wild elephants started venturing into these areas again. However, as many people started resettling in their villages after the war ended in 2009, it worsened conflict with the elephants.
Meanwhile, over the last few decades the government’s response has been a repeat of the past, as they have forced more elephants into smaller pockets of forest cover creating unsustainable conditions. They do this through elephant drives, which involve hundreds of people walking through the forest and chasing elephants away by making different kinds of noises, firing thousands of firecrackers or shooting at the sky. Electric fences are also erected on the boundaries of these protected areas so that elephants cannot return.
Yet often these elephants do end up returning to the villages. For instance, when shrublands were cleared for the Mahaweli Development Project a program that began in the 1960s, covering 39% of the country s area, aiming to develop agricultural land and create hydroelectric power facilities the wildlife department conducted a large elephant drive to move 130 elephants into the Wilpattu National Park, but about 50 of them returned.
Over 100 ended up returning after 150 elephants were driven into the Maduru Oya National Park in 1988. While the authorities haven’t done any major drives since 2006, they conduct smaller ones when people complain. But these kinds of drives only increase the aggressiveness of elephants and subject them to severe stress, said Fernando.
While young calves and adult females live in herds, adult males lead a solitary life. And it s often these bull elephants that raid crops and cause human deaths, injuries and damage to property. Over the years, researchers have found that while elephant drives chase away some of the herds they do not drive away the aggressive, solitary males.
Later on, when the Sri Lankan government realized they could not fence wild elephants, they started building holding grounds to retain and rehabilitate them. But conservationists believe that these grounds do not hold enough food for elephants. Audit reports have also revealed mismanagement of funds allocated for feeding elephants. Out of the 65 elephants that were housed at the first holding ground in Horowpathana National Park, 16 of them died in the first six years due to malnutrition. A few were shot dead while trying to escape the grounds. Irrespective of these concerns, the government is planning to build another holding ground in southern Sri Lanka.
“Almost half of the country is now shared by elephants and humans. So it shows that the attempt to limit elephants to protected areas has completely failed and it s not an option,” said Fernando.
Looking for ways to mitigate the conflict, Fernando and his team have been testing community fencing initiatives across villages in the country. They’ve been experimenting with different kinds of electric fences to be placed around farmland to protect human habitats, as opposed to national parks which limit elephants access to sites of food and water. These fences were removed after cultivation and animals were allowed to pass through the farmlands, which, Fernando said, reduced conflict and safeguarded crops.
But small organizations can only show the way, said Fernando. Initiatives have to be planned and implemented by the government. The government has always announced plans and appointed committees but no action has been taken on the ground. Just last year, Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, the Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, said that a new policy would be formed to address the conflict, but there has been no follow-up to that statement since then.
“We need to make the right policy and governance decisions,” Akbarally said. “Instead, we are creating more conflict by setting up more and more infrastructure developments, constantly cutting down forests and putting more pressure on these animals. It s not like the elephants come out and decide one day , ‘let s go to war with humans.’”
By Zinara Rathnayake
(New Lines Magazine)
Fashion and fitness came together in a spectacular fashion event as FitCon Luxe unveiled its much-anticipated Active Edit Collection at an exclusive evening at Cinnamon Life that celebrated wellness, confidence and contemporary style. The launch brought together guests from the world of fashion, lifestyle and fitness creating an atmosphere that reflected the brand’s commitment to empowering individuals through versatile and sophisticated activewear. From chic contemporary looks to elegant statement pieces, attendees embraced the spirit of style and confidence. Their impeccable fashion choices complemented the brand’s vision of blending luxury, wellness and modern living, making the event, a true celebration of fashion forward elegance (Zanita ) ✍️
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- Jayani Brian Kerkovan Thyasha Azhar and friend
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- Kamal Munasinghe with Trieshan with a guest wife Katie
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- Ayesh Fonseka
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- Brian Kerkovan
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- Trieshan with a guest
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- Roshan Ranawana with Kushlani
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- Thyasha
Leading with passion
In Sri Lanka’s dynamic hospitality landscape, few leaders have left a significant mark as Kamal Munasinghe.As Senior Vice President of Colombo Hotels at Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, and General Manager of Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, Kamal Munasinghe brings out three decades of international experience to one of the country’s most ambitions hospitality venture. Renowned for his strategic vision, operational excellence, and passion for guest experience, Kamal has played a pivotal role in shaping the growth of Cinnamon’s flagship properties, while helping position Colombo as a premier destination for business and tourism. And this is how my exclusive interview with this dynamic personality went:
(Q) How do you assess the cultural state of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and what gives you confidence about the future?
(A) Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is in a very positive place today. Over the past few years, We have seen the sector perform strongly, with increasing visitor arrivals, renewed investor confidence, and growing interest from key international markets. More importantly, travellers, who visit Sri Lanka, continue to leave with a very positive impression of the destination, which is one of the strongest endorsements any country can receive.
What gives me confidence is that Sri Lanka has something genuinely unique to offer. Within a relatively small island, visitors can experience ancient heritage, wildlife, beaches, mountains, tea country, wellness, adventure, and vibrant city life. Few destinations can offer such diversity in such close proximity. We also have one of our greatest assets in the warmth and hospitality of our people. Looking ahead, if we continue investing in the right places, I believe Sri Lanka is welt positioned to become one of Asia’s most desirable tourism destinations.
(Q) What role can Cinnamon Hotels play in positioning Colombo as a must visit destination in Asia?
(A) At Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, we see ourselves as more than hotel operators. We are in the business of creating experiences and helping shape perceptions of Sri Lanka as a destination.
Colombo is a city with enormous potential. It is a city where history, culture, business, entertainment, and modern development come together. Through our investments, particularly Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka, we are helping create experiences that encourage travellers to discover everything the city has to offer.
Today’s travellers are looking for destinations that offer great food, entertainment, culture, shopping, events, and lifestyle experiences alongside quality accommodation. By bringing many of these elements together, we are helping position Colombo as a destination worth exploring in its own right. Our rote is to continue raising standards, attracting international attention, and showcasing the city as a vibrant and exciting destination within Asia.
(Q) Congratulations on your new appointment as Senior Vice President, Colombo Hotels at Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, and also General Manager, Cinnamon Life at City of Dream. What are your immediate priorities in this role?
(A) One of my immediate priorities is strengthening collaboration across the tourism ecosystem to create a stronger and more unified vision for Colombo. We need to continue attracting international events, conferences, sporting activities, and cultural experiences that showcase the city’s potential.
Initiatives like Chalo Colombo by City of Dreams Sri Lanka and John Keells Leisure sector demonstrate how targeted destination campaigns can help drive visitation and highlight Colombo’s growing appeal. My focus is on ensuring the city continues to evolve as a vibrant, competitive destination that delivers value for visitors, businesses, and the wider tourism industry.
(Q) How can Sri Lanka attract more high-spending travellers rather than focussing solely on numbers?
(A) The conversation around tourism success needs to evolve beyond simply counting arrivals. While visitor numbers are important, what truly matters is the value tourism creates for the country, communities, and businesses.
To attract higher-spending travellers, we need to focus on creating exceptional experiences. Luxury today is no longer just about five-star accommodation. It is about exclusivity, personalisation, and access to experiences that cannot be found elsewhere.
Sri Lanka is perfectly positioned to deliver this. Whether it is private wildlife experiences, wellness retreats, curated cultural journeys, world-class golf, sailing, or exceptional dining experiences, we have opportunities to create products that appeal to premium travellers.
If we focus on quality experiences, service excellence, and destination storytelling, we can attract visitors who stay longer, spend more, and develop a deeper connection with Sri Lanka.
(Q) What are the biggest opportunities for Sri Lanka to compete with destinations such as Maldives, Thailand and Singapore?
(A) Each of these destinations has built a strong identity, and I believe Sri Lanka’s greatest opportunity lies in embracing what makes us different rather than trying to imitate others.
What sets Sri Lanka apart is the diversity of experiences available within a single trip. A visitor can explore ancient kingdoms, enjoy a safari, relax on a beach, visit tea plantations, experience local culture, and spend time in a modern city, all within a matter of days.
There is also significant opportunity in areas such as sports tourism. Sri Lanka already has strong recognition through cricket, but there is growing potential in golf, surfing, sailing, cycling, and endurance events. Markets such as Australia, India, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East offer exciting opportunities in this space.
Most importantly, Sri Lanka offers an unmatched variety of experiences within a compact geography. That combination of accessibility, diversity, and value is a powerful advantage in today’s tourism landscape.
(Q) How important is destination marketing in shaping international perception of Sri Lanka?
(A) Destination marketing is absolutely essential. Travellers often form opinions about a destination long before they make a booking. The images they see, the stories they hear, and the experiences shared by others all influence their decision.
Sri Lanka has an incredible story to tell, but we need to tell it consistently and strategically. Good destination marketing is about creating desire. It is about inspiring people to imagine themselves here and helping them understand what makes Sri Lanka different from every other destination competing for their attention.
A strong and consistent tourism brand will be critical if we are to achieve our long-term ambitions as a destination.
(Q) What emerging tourism markets should Sri Lanka target in the coming year?
(A) India will continue to be a key growth market for Sri Lanka, supported by strong connectivity and increasing demand for short-haul leisure and business travel. We also see opportunities in Australia, Europe, and Southeast Asia, particularly among travellers seeking unique cultural and lifestyle experiences.
The Middle East has traditionally been a valuable source market for Sri Lanka and, despite current geopolitical challenges, remains strategically important in the long term due to its strong connectivity and high-value traveller segment.
More importantly, our focus should be on diversification. By attracting visitors from a range of markets and growing segments, we can build a stronger and more resilient tourism industry.
(Q) . How can Sri Lanka become more than a transit city and encourage visitors to stay?
(A) For many years, Colombo was often viewed as the starting point of a Sri Lankan holiday. Today, that perception is changing.
Modern travellers are increasingly drawn to cities that offer culture, entertainment, food, shopping, nightlife, and unique local experiences. Colombo already has many of these. What we need to do is continue developing and promoting them more effectively.
Projects such as Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka are helping transform the city by introducing new experiences that encourage visitors to extend their stay. At the same time, we need more festivals, international events, cultural programming, waterfront experiences, and city attractions that showcase Colombo’s character.
It is a city where old and new exist side by side. You can walk past a colonial building, turn a corner, and find yourself surrounded by a completely different side of Colombo. Every street, every neighbourhood, and every skyline tells a story. Whether someone is here for a business meeting, a conference, a concert, a sporting event, or simply a great meal, we want them to leave with a richer understanding of Colombo and everything the city has to offer.
(Q) What trends are you seeing among international travellers that Sri Lanka should capitalise on?
(A) One of the biggest trends is the shift towards meaningful, experience-led travel. Travellers are increasingly looking for experiences that allow them to connect with a destination on a deeper level.
They want authentic cultural experiences, local food, interaction with communities, wellness experiences, and opportunities to discover places that feel unique and personal. They are also placing greater importance on sustainability and responsible tourism.
Another trend is experiential luxury. Today’s travellers are often less interested in traditional luxury and more interested in unique experiences that create lasting memories. Sri Lanka is exceptionally well positioned to benefit from these trends because authenticity is already part of who we are as a destination.
(Q) How can Sri Lanka leverage its culture, heritage and cuisine to create distinctive tourism experience?
(A) Our culture, heritage, and cuisine are among our strongest competitive advantages. They are also some of the most memorable parts of the visitor experience.
Travellers today want to participate, not simply observe They want to learn how local food is prepared, hear stories behind traditions, attend festivals, meet artisans, and engage with communities. These are the experiences that people remember long after they return home.
Sri Lankan cuisine in particular has enormous potential. Food has become one of the key reasons people choose destinations, and our culinary traditions are rich, diverse, and deeply connected to our history and culture.
By bringing together heritage, storytelling, food, music, art, and local experiences, we can create tourism products that are authentic, memorable, and uniquely Sri Lankan.
(Q) How do you see the Integrated Resorts changing the tourism landscape of Colombo?
(A) Integrated resorts have transformed cities around the world because they create complete destination experiences rather than stand alone attractions.
They bring together hospitality, entertainment, dining, retail, events, and leisure experiences in one location, creating reasons for visitors to stay longer and spend more time exploring a city.
And in South Asia, City of Dreams is the place. As South Asia’s first fully integrated resort, we represent a significant step forward in elevating Colombo’s tourism offering. They help attract new visitor segments, support international events, strengthen the city’s appeal as a business destination, and create experiences that can compete with leading cities across the region.
Most importantly, they contribute to changing perceptions of Colombo and showcasing the city as a destination that offers world-class experiences.
(Q) Looking ahead, what is your vision for Sri Lanka tourism over the next decades, and where does Cinnamon Hotels fit into that journey?
(A) My vision is for Sri Lanka to be recognised as Asia’s most complete island destination, a place where visitors can experience culture, nature, wellness, adventure, business, and entertainment within a single journey.
Success should not be measured solely by arrival numbers, but by the value tourism creates for communities, businesses, and the country as a whole. I would like to see tourism growth that is inclusive, sustainable, and beneficial to people across Sri Lanka.
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts will continue to play a leading role by investing in world-class hospitality, developing new tourism experiences, and helping showcase Sri Lanka on the global stage. We are not just building hotels; we are helping shape the future of Sri Lankan tourism.
(Q) How can the industry balance growth with environmental and cultural preservation?
(A) Sustainability has to be at the centre of every conversation about tourism growth. The natural beauty, bio diversity, and cultural heritage of Sri Lanka are the very reasons visitors come here, so protecting those assets is not optional.
As an industry, we need to ensure that development is responsible, that local communities benefit from tourism, and that environmental considerations are integrated into every stage of planning and operations.
We also need to protect cultural authenticity. As destinations become more popular, there is always a risk of losing the unique character that makes them attractive in the first place. Growth should enhance local culture, not replace it.
The future of tourism is not about choosing between growth and preservation. It is about ensuring that they go hand in hand. If we get that balance right, Sri Lanka can continue to grow as a destination while preserving the natural and cultural treasures that make it truly extraordinary.
In a remarkable recognition of excellence and leadership, Ziqa Insaf has been honoured with the prestigious Global Asia Achievers’Award for her outstanding contributions and achievements on a regional and global stage.
This award acknowledes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, innovation and impact with their respective fields Ziqa Insaf’s accomplishments reflect a commitment to excellence and a drive to create meaningful change, earning recognition among distinguished achievers across Asia.
Proud moment for Ziqa
Recieving the Global Asia’s Achievement Award marks an important milestone in Ziqa professional journey. This honour not only highlights personal success but also serves as an inspiration to emerging leaders striving to make a difference in their professions and communities.
As Asia continues to reconize influential voices, and transformative leaders Ziqa Insaf’s achievements stand as testament to preservance, vision and the pursuit of excellence.
The award reinforces the importance of leadership that trancends boundaries and contribute positively to society.
She played a pivotal role in the M/s Tourism International Pageant held in Sri Lanka in 1993 and has contributed to dedicate herself to numerous charitable causes over the years.
Her remarkable efforts include supporting and helping rebuild the lives of those affected by the devastating tsunami, offering her time and expertise on a pro bono basis to assist less fortunate brides, and actively engaging in charitable initiatives benefitting underprivileged children.
Speaking about her reconition, Ziqa expressed gratitude to her supporters, mentors, and collaborators emphasing that her award reflrcts the collective efforts if everyone who has been part of her journey
This prestigious award is a fitting tribute to her lifelong dedication to empowering others and making a meaningful difference in society.
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