October 27, Colombo (LNW): Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for a comprehensive overhaul of Sri Lanka’s elephant conservation efforts, warning that the death of the tusker Kawanthissa should prompt decisive action against the continuing loss of the country’s iconic wildlife.
Speaking at a meeting of the Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change, Premadasa said Kawanthissa’s death should be treated as a killing and serve as a turning point in the country’s approach to protecting elephants. He stressed that stronger safeguards were needed to prevent similar tragedies and ensure the survival of Sri Lanka’s remaining tuskers.
The Opposition Leader maintained that elephants are far more than a wildlife resource, representing an important part of the island’s cultural identity, natural heritage and ecological balance. He called for a dedicated national conservation strategy that would place elephant protection at the centre of wider environmental planning.
As part of this approach, he proposed developing a comprehensive land-use policy that takes account of wildlife habitats and the needs of communities living alongside elephants. He also advocated a people-centred conservation programme, arguing that lasting results would require cooperation between public authorities, local residents and environmental organisations.
Premadasa expressed concern over the constraints faced by the Department of Wildlife Conservation, particularly shortages of personnel and essential equipment. He called on the Government to provide greater financial and operational support so that wildlife officers could respond more effectively to threats and improve the management of elephant populations.
He also drew attention to concerns about the dwindling number of large-tusked elephants in the country, urging a closer investigation into the reasons behind the decline. Better monitoring and research, he suggested, would be essential to understanding the scale of the problem and developing targeted conservation measures.
Among his proposals was the introduction of a dedicated telephone hotline through which the public could report elephants and tuskers that were injured or unwell. Such a system could help authorities respond more quickly to emergencies and improve coordination between wildlife officers, veterinarians and elephant welfare organisations.
Premadasa further indicated that the Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change was willing to provide multiparameter monitoring equipment needed by veterinarians involved in treating elephants. Access to appropriate medical technology could strengthen the assessment and treatment of animals requiring urgent care.
He also called for environmental groups, civil society organisations and wildlife activists to play a more active role in protecting elephants. Greater public participation, he argued, would help build awareness, improve reporting of incidents and reinforce efforts to hold those responsible for wildlife killings accountable.
Turning to wider environmental challenges, the Opposition Leader stressed the need to improve public understanding of the El Niño and La Niña climate patterns and their potential consequences for Sri Lanka. These phenomena can influence rainfall, drought conditions and temperature patterns, making public awareness an important element of disaster preparedness.
He proposed taking climate education beyond national-level campaigns and into communities throughout the island, with awareness programmes reaching every Grama Niladhari division. Such initiatives, he said, would help people better understand environmental risks and make informed decisions about conservation and climate resilience.
Premadasa and Professor L. M. Abeywickrama serve as Co-Chairpersons of the Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change, which provides a parliamentary platform for discussing environmental protection and climate-related issues.
The proposals come amid continuing concerns about human-elephant conflict and the pressures facing Sri Lanka’s wildlife. Premadasa’s message was that protecting elephants requires more than responding to individual incidents: it demands sustained government commitment, adequate resources, scientific monitoring and a coordinated national effort to safeguard the country’s natural heritage for future generations.
