Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has proposed establishing a special task force to protect Sri Lanka’s remaining tuskers, alongside a dedicated wildlife hospital, modern veterinary facilities and a rapid-response unit to handle emergencies involving injured elephants.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday (20), Premadasa said Sri Lanka needed a stronger wildlife protection and emergency treatment system to prevent further losses of iconic tuskers following the death of Kavanthissa.
He proposed establishing a special elephant protection task force with the involvement of experienced wildlife officers, including Chathura Gunaratne and the investigation team led by Olugala, who were involved in an arrest connected to the Kavanthissa incident.
Premadasa said their expertise should be utilised to strengthen efforts to protect endangered tuskers and combat crimes involving elephants.
He also called for the establishment of a dedicated wildlife hospital equipped to treat seriously injured wild animals, particularly elephants requiring specialised medical attention.
The Opposition Leader said modern diagnostic equipment, mobile laboratory facilities, emergency treatment units and a rapid-response mechanism were urgently needed to improve the chances of saving injured wildlife.
He offered the opposition’s support in establishing such facilities, including assistance in securing foreign funding and other resources.
Premadasa also proposed involving foreign veterinary specialists in complex cases and strengthening cooperation between wildlife authorities, universities and other relevant institutions.
Highlighting shortages of wildlife veterinarians and other trained personnel, he urged the government to strengthen staffing and medical resources within the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
He further proposed including environmental organisations and civil society representatives in the expert committee appointed by the government to investigate Kavanthissa’s death, arguing that their participation would improve transparency and accountability.
Premadasa said lessons from the deaths of Kavanthissa, Bhathiya and Thekka Raja should be used to develop better treatment procedures and emergency response systems.
He stressed that protecting Sri Lanka’s remaining tuskers required practical reforms, improved veterinary capacity and coordinated action rather than responses only after an elephant had died. (Newswire)
The government is taking steps to establish a Vocational Technology University in the North Central Province by repurposing partially completed [...]
Prime Minister and Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with US Ambassador Eric Meyer [...]
Deputy Minister of Education Madhura Senevirathna recently told that the recruitment of 23,000 teachers to fill vacancies in government schools [...]
All schools across the island resumed normal operations today (October 28) following a closure yesterday (October 27) due to inclement [...]
Welcoming the spirit of the festive season, Radisson Blu Resort Galle, Radisson Hotel Kandy, and Radisson Hotel Colombo marked the beginning of their Christmas celebrations with traditional Christmas cake mixing [...]
International circus artistry, Christmas music and festive dining come together for Once Upon a Christmas – The Greatest Xmas Show Christmas in Colombo is about to get a whole lot [...]
City of Dreams Sri Lanka ushers in the festive season with its Christmas cake mixing City of Dreams Sri Lanka marked the start of Once Upon a Christmas, the integrated [...]
© 2026 Wire Digital. All Rights Reserved.
Loading comments…