COLOMBO : The expert committee appointed to investigate the death of tusker ‘Kawanthissa’ and formulate recommendations for a National Elephant Conservation Programme held its first meeting at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (21), chaired by Presidential Chief of Staff Prabath Chandrakeerthi.
The committee was appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to investigate all aspects of the elephant’s death in the Siyambalangamuwa area of Galgamuwa on or around October 16, 2026, develop standard operating procedures for the welfare of wild elephants and recommend a national programme for elephant conservation.
The meeting discussed the cause of the elephant’s death, the nature of its injuries and the intervention of the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Attention was also given to developing science-based procedures to ensure prompt action in similar incidents and establishing a Rapid Response Veterinary Unit for timely field intervention.
It was further decided to seek the support of local and foreign experts in this process.
Those present included Additional Secretary to the President W. W. Harrison, the committee’s coordinator; former Ministry Secretary A. H. Sarath Wijesinghe, the committee’s chairperson; and committee members Professor T. Saminda Fernando, Professor P. G. Anil Pushpakumara, Professor U. K. Kalinga Padmalal, Dr Jagath Gunawardena and Attorney-at-Law Charaka Jayaratne.
