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)
Bernie Stefan is the Chairman and Managing Director of Nestlé Lanka Limited, overseeing Nestlé’s operations in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. He assumed this role in March 2023. Under his leadership, Nestlé has strengthened its footprint in Sri Lanka, touching individuals and families, communities and spearheading sustainable development.
Since taking charge in 2023, Stefan has brought with him over two decades of international experiences, steering the company with a clear focus on sustainability, innovation and long term growth.
Bernie describes the anniversary as a moment of pride and reflection on over a century of commitment to Sri Lanka and its people.
Under his leadership, Nestle has expanded its footprint while staying true to its mission: to improve lives by providing nutrition and wellness for all Sri Lankans. Beyond the commercial success, the company has focused on community impact – supporting local farmers. promoting sustainable practices and contributing to public health initiatives.
(Q) Nestlé has been part of Sri Lankan homes for 120 years. How has the brand evolved alongside the changing lifestyles of Sri Lankan families?
(A) We at Nestlé are extremely proud of our 120 year journey of enriching Sri Lankan lives. It has been a journey guided by purpose and working together for good – touching individuals and families, the community, and the planet. As lifestyles and needs have evolved, so, too, have our products – offering convenient, tasty and nutritious solutions that meet everyday moments, whether it’s energy on the go or a quick and tasty meal. A true symbol of this legacy is our flagship brand, Nestomalt – synonymous with power, strength and energy – which today is enjoyed as the first cup of the day by a majority of Sri Lankan households.
(Q) Many Sri Lankans have grown up with Nestlé products at their breakfast table or during tea time. How does the company stay emotionally connected with generations of consumers?
(A) Our product range caters to the nutritional needs of consumers from birth to old age. We always ensure that the consumer is at the centre of everything we do. This deep understanding of consumer preferences, ensures not only that our products deliver taste and nutrition but also our communication is in tune to the local context. Our brands have been deeply rooted in the lives of the Sri Lankan community over many decades – be it through Milo school sports programmes or Nestomalt marathons. Being an organisation that has been present in Sri Lanka for such a long time, it also means that consumers hold many nostalgic memories from their childhood with our products.
(Q) From childhood treats to everyday beverages, Nestlé products often carry nostalgic memories. How important is this sense of nostalgia to the brand’s identity?
(A) Brands need to evolve with time and remain relevant. Nostalgia does bring a deep bond and connect with consumers. However, through product and packaging renovations, we have successfully ensured that our brands remain relevant to consumers. One of our oldest Nestlé brands in Sri Lanka, Milkmaid , today, has an online recipe platform with over 300 recipes. This is another example where we have ensured that our brands are able to connect with today’s consumers.
(Q) Has Nestlé adapted its products to suit modern lifestyles while still respecting local tastes?
(A) Our ability to cater to local taste preferences has been a crucial factor to the success of our brands. With the setting up of our local manufacturing operations in 1984, we now manufacture over 90% of Nestlé products sold locally. The deep consumer understanding our teams possess, combined with our global R&D expertise in the food and beverage sector, have given us the ability to tailor make our products to cater to the Sri Lankan taste palette while offering convenience. This is evident in the success of our Nescafe and Nestea 3-in-1 variants and the Ready-to-drink beverage range of Milo and Nescafe, that deliver convenience and great taste.
(Q) How is Nestlé aligning its practices to sustainability and mindful living?
(A) We are committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Promoting circularity is also a focus area in this journey. We have plans to be 100% plastic neutral this year. Our sustainability initiatives cover the entire value chain, from farm to fork. In Sri Lanka, we are focusing a lot on increasing yield and promoting regenerative agricultural practices across our dairy and coconut value chains. In our manufacturing operations, we have continuously striving towards reducing water and energy usage. We have also implemented numerous initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint in logistics, such as the adoption of rail transportation. We also focus on fostering behavioural change on responsible waste disposal amongst the youth through our School Waste Management Programme.
(Q) What moments or milestones best reflect its connection with everyday life in the country?
(A) Our ability to provide consumers with good food moments each and every day is something that I and the team are extremely passionate about. Also, the deep connect we have with the community, be it our dairy and coconut farmers, the numerous suppliers and trade partners, has been built on trust over the years. Today, we have farmers, suppliers and even employees from across generations and this speaks volumes about our business practices and the trust we have built in Sri Lanka for over a century.
(Q) Nestlé is known globally for innovation. How do you balance global expertise with the unique lifestyle and culinary culture of Sri Lanka?
(A) As I mentioned, understanding the taste palette, nutritional needs and the lifestyles of Sri Lankan consumers and ensuring our products fulfill these needs is key. Having access to one of the world’s leading R&D facilities gives us the unique ability to ensure our products deliver to these consumer needs and preferences. Further, it enhances our ability to ensure the freshness and bio-availability of certain nutrients contained in our products. We’ve also made significant strides in packaging innovation, where we use less plastic and materials that are better suited for recycling. The introduction of Coconut Milk Powder in 1986 was a first for Sri Lanka, and this is another great example of the deep understanding we have of local culinary culture.
(Q) How is the younger generation engaged with the brand today?
(A) Appealing to the discerning youth population will be key to ensuring the future success of our brands. Understanding the nuances of each generation is important. It is also evident that consumption patterns and lifestyles across generations are evolving rapidly. Staying abreast of these changes is something we are deeply committed to. In addition to delivering on taste and nutrition, being trendy and youthful – the purpose for which our brands stand for – is equally important. NESCAFÉ and MAGGI PAPARE BLAST are two brands that have developed a strong connect with Sri Lankan youth.
(Q) What vision do you have for the next chapter in Sri Lanka, especially in shaping lifestyle trends?
(A) Looking ahead, our vision is to continue enriching Sri Lankan lives by providing tasty and nutritious products and promoting healthier and active lifestyles. We will keep innovating to meet evolving consumer needs, while strengthening local sourcing and reducing our environmental impact. The next chapter is about deepening our positive impact – supporting communities, empowering youth and contributing to a resilient food system.
(Q) As the head of Nestlé Sri Lanka, what does celebrating 120 years personally mean to you?
(A) Celebrating 120 years in Sri Lanka is deeply meaningful to us, as it reflects the trust generations of Sri Lankan families have placed in Nestlé. This milestone is a testament to the dedication of our people and the strong partnerships we have built across the country. For me personally, it is both a moment of pride and a responsibility – to honour this legacy while continuing to work together for good, doing what is right for our consumers, our communities, and Sri Lanka.
By Zanita Careem
At a time when entertainment often overshadows education on television, K.C. Saranga has rewritten the script—securing a remarkable third consecutive win for Best Educational Programme at the Raigam Tele’es 2025.
His flagship programme, Jeevithayata Vidyawa (Science for Life), aired on Ada Derana, has not only dominated its category but also elevated the standards of educational broadcasting in Sri Lanka.
Reflecting on the milestone, Saranga described the win as more than a personal achievement. “Maintaining an award ceremony of this magnitude for 22 years is no small feat. Raigam Tele’es plays a pivotal role in uplifting the industry. By consistently recognising and rewarding Sri Lankan creators, it provides the necessary oxygen for television to evolve as a professional craft,” he said.
A veteran with over 25 years in the industry, Saranga—currently General Manager (News and Current Affairs) at TV Derana and Head of the Ada Derana News Channel—has seamlessly transitioned from hard news to impactful educational programming. His success underscores a broader vision: to harness television’s full potential as an audio-visual learning tool.
“There is a significant void in Sri Lankan television when it comes to high-quality educational productions,” he noted. “Television is an audio-visual medium; its true power lies in its ability to show, not just tell. We use multimedia elements—graphics, animation, and dynamic presentation—to grip the viewer’s attention.”
Saranga emphasised that his goal was to match global benchmarks. “If world-class science documentaries are available in English, our mission was to bring that same global standard to the Sinhala-speaking audience,” he said.
Through Jeevithayata Vidyawa, complex scientific concepts—from aerodynamics to cyclones—are presented in a manner that is both accessible and engaging, redefining the notion of “edutainment” in local television.
Expressing gratitude, Saranga credited his team and network for the continued success.
“This achievement is a result of a shared vision. My deepest gratitude goes to the management of Ada Derana. In an industry often driven by conventional ratings, they have consistently provided a sanctuary for creative freedom, allowing ‘out-of-the-box’ ideas to flourish,” he said.
He added: “To my incredible production team—this trophy belongs to you. Your technical skill and commitment have transformed simple ideas into a national standard. Finally, thank you to our viewers; your curiosity is our ultimate motivation. We will continue to prove that learning is an inspiring journey.”
Saranga’s hat-trick stands as a testament to the power of innovation in educational broadcasting—proving that knowledge, when presented with creativity and purpose, can captivate audiences just as effectively as mainstream entertainment.
By Ifham Nizam
The event “Style Surge,” organised by the Lions Club Elevate, was an evening filled with glamour, leadership and purpose collided in a spectacular fusion. The grand Ballroom at Galle Face Hotel became a canvas of fashion; every detail, from the floral centrepiece to the curated lighting, whispered elegance, while glamour set the stage, purpose was the back bone.
The show featured a curated selection of Sri Lankan designers, each bringing their signature styles to the stage.
The designers captivated the audience with bold, contemporary silhouettes that fused modern trends with traditional influence, creating pieces that were both sophisticated and wearable.
The batik ensembles by doyen of Batiks, Eric Suriyasena, were masterpieces, demonstrating the designer’s mastery in balancing artistry and practicality. Each piece told a story, highlighting the cultural nuances of Sri Lanka, while contributing to the glamour of the event.
The hair and make up for the models were curated by Salon Avra by Thushari de Silva and was nothing short of perfection,
From sleek, modern looks to elegant textured styles, Salon Avra ensured every model complemented the designer’s vision, highlighting the intricate details of each ensemble. The artistry on stage reflected a seamless collaboration between fashion beauty and presentation.
Style Surge unfolded an evening of elegance, creativity and purpose. It brought together Colombo style conscious crowd, social leaders and fashion enthusiasts and transformed the venue into a vibrant celebration of couture and compassion.
As the lights dimmed,the runaway came alive with a striking showcase of designs, ranging from contemporary chic to timeless sophistication, by designers like Eric Suriyasena, Anushko, Azeena Sulaiman and Jaywanthi Panibharatha. Leading fashion brands showcased were Aluminium, Disala, Eriq and Elegant Closet, and they presented a blend of contemporary and traditional fashion. Jewellery for the show was designed and sponsored by Blue Majestara Ceylon, . The Chief Guest was District Governor Lion Mahesh Borolugoda and his wife Lion Lady Sunethra Borolugoda.
Beyond glamour, this event, Style Surge, carried a meaningful mission to help rennovate two schools and improve educational facilities for future students
Lions Club of Colombo Elevate district 306D6, the organisers of this event, have been long synonymous with community development .The event underscores the power of fashion as a force of good.
Proceeds and awareness generated though the evening will be directed towards the clubs ongoing humanitarian initiatives, reinforcing its commitment to uplifting communities while engaging the public in an inspiring way.
In every sense, the event was more than a fashion show, it was a statement. This event reaffirms that glamour can also carry a purpose, creativity can spark compassion, and a runaway that can become a powerful platform for social change. This fashion show was graced by distinguished guests of honour , including designers Aseka Wijewardena, Michael Wijesuriya, Yolande Aluwihare, and Shyara Mendis
This event was organised by Lion Diana Nilanthi, Shen, Lion Thushari de Silva and Lion Shashika Hettiarachchi, whose commitment to creativity and attention to detail transformed the event into a truly memorable evening. They were the driving force that brought the vision of the show to life. Their meticulous planning, conceptualising the theme, coordinating the designers ensured the show ran seamlessly, from start to finish Pix by Thushara Attapathu
By Zanita Careem
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- Thushari de Silva
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- Kamal Addiarachchi
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- Azeena with a guest
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- Enjoying the Kamal Addiarachchi night of style
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