News 2026: 128 elephants killed in first four-and-a-half months Published 6 mins agoon 2026/07/15 The death of 128 wild elephants during the first four-and-a-half months of 2026 has triggered renewed concern among Wildlife authorities and conservationists, who warn that unless u…
News 2026: 128 elephants killed in first four-and-a-half months
Published 6 mins agoon 2026/07/15
The death of 128 wild elephants during the first four-and-a-half months of 2026 has triggered renewed concern among Wildlife authorities and conservationists, who warn that unless urgent and science-based interventions are implemented, the country could be heading for another year of heavy elephant losses. Figures released by the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) show that 128 elephants died between January 1 and mid-May this year. Illegal electrocution, shooting, train collisions, poisoning, hakka patas (jaw bombs), and other human-elephant conflict-related incidents remain the leading causes of death. A senior DWC official told The Island that the continued loss of elephants was a matter of grave concern. She added:”Every elephant death is a significant loss to our wildlife heritage. We have intensified patrols, strengthened law enforcement and are working with local communities to minimise conflict. However, unless all stakeholders work together, reducing these deaths will remain a major challenge.” The official said the Department was also investigating incidents involving illegal electric fences and firearms while expanding mitigation measures in identified conflict hotspots. Chairman of the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), Hemantha Withanage, said the latest figures underscored the urgent need to rethink existing strategies. “Human-elephant conflict is not merely a wildlife issue. It is a land-use planning issue, an agricultural issue and a governance issue. Scientific land-use planning, protection of elephant corridors and proper maintenance of electric fences are essential if we are to save both human lives and elephants,” Withanage said. Wildlife experts noted that habitat fragmentation, encroachment into elephant ranges, expansion of cultivation, and unplanned development continue to intensify encounters between people and elephants. They warned that unless preventive measures are accelerated, elephant deaths this year could once again reach alarming levels. Sri Lanka is home to one of Asia’s largest remaining populations of wild Asian elephants, estimated at between 6,000 and 7,000. However, it also records one of the world’s highest annual elephant mortality rates linked to human-elephant conflict. The DWC reminded the public that killing an elephant is a serious offence under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance and carries severe penalties, including imprisonment and substantial fines. Conservationists have urged the Government to expedite the implementation of the National Action Plan on Human-Elephant Conflict, strengthen inter-agency coordination, improve habitat management and allocate greater resources to community-based conservation programmes. With more than half the year still ahead, Wildlife authorities say the rising elephant death toll is a stark reminder that lasting solutions will require sustained political commitment, scientific planning and stronger cooperation between government agencies and affected communities. By Ifham Nizam
News Sigiriya Jungles marks 10 years with community medical camp
Published 7 mins agoon 2026/07/15
Sigiriya Jungles Resort & Spa will commemorate its 10th anniversary by hosting a community medical camp for residents of surrounding villages on August 11, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to community wellbeing and sustainable tourism. The medical camp, scheduled from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. at the resort premises, will provide BMI assessments, full blood tests, cholesterol screening, blood pressure checks, eye and dental examinations, medicines, and health awareness sessions aimed at promoting preventive healthcare and healthier lifestyles. The anniversary celebrations will continue later that evening in the presence of invited religious leaders, health officials and other dignitaries. Founder and Chairman of Sigiriya Jungles Resort & Spa, Devindre Senaratne, said the initiative reflected the resort’s desire to create a meaningful and lasting impact on the community that has supported its journey over the past decade. “Our greatest achievement is not measured by occupancy or awards, but by the happy guests and the relationships we have built over a decade. Seeing this positive impact is what really makes us happy,” he said. Located in Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, the purposefully designed 60-room resort has welcomed more than 250,000 guests since opening in 2016. Designed by architect Vinod Jayasinghe, a protégé of the late Geoffrey Bawa, the property is distinguished by its bridge inspired by the historic Bogoda Bridge and offers visitors convenient access to UNESCO World Heritage attractions, including Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura. The resort also conducts immersive experiences such as the Audangawa Village Tour and traditional Sri Lankan village cooking demonstrations at Archchi’s. Over the past decade, Sigiriya Jungles has received several industry recognitions, including TripAdvisor Certificates of Excellence, consecutive TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards from 2020 to 2026, the Booking.com Traveller Review Award 2026, and certifications for Safe and Secure Hospitality Operations and International Food Safety Standards (ISO 22000). The resort has also undertaken a range of community initiatives, including the construction of the Audangawa Village Temple, continued support for Moragaswewa Vidyalaya in Habarana, regular shramadana campaigns, local sourcing programmes and certified skills training. More than 650 individuals have been trained through the resort over the past decade, many of whom now serve in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and overseas. General Manager Chaminda Samaranayake said the resort remained committed to strengthening its sustainability agenda and is currently progressing towards Travelife certification. “We are deeply grateful to our guests, staff, local communities, religious leaders, suppliers and partners who have helped shape these ten years. The next chapter will be guided by the same values that brought us here,” he said.
News Protests continue in Valikamam North demanding military-held land
Published 8 mins agoon 2026/07/15
Police ask protesting civilians to leave the area (pic courtesy Tamil Guardian) Residents of Valikamam North protested for a fourth consecutive week on Sunday (12), demanding the release of their land, which remains under the control of the military, Tamil Guardian has reported. The demonstration, held at Palaly Junction, saw protesters renew their call for the return of property they say they have been shut out of for the past 36 years, land the military continues to occupy and to work for its own agricultural and commercial ends while its owners live on, decade after decade, without their homes or fields. When the demonstrators tried to put up a shelter at the protest site on Sunday, the police stopped them, leaving them to continue under a scorching sun as Jaffna endures the intense heat of mid-July. Many of those gathered were elderly, yet the police maintained their refusal to allow even a temporary shade to be raised against the extreme temperatures. The protest is part of a longer campaign by the displaced people of Valikamam North, who have also held weekly Friday demonstrations at Myliddy, outside the military commander’s bungalow, for close to three months, demanding the release of hundreds of acres of privately owned land still held within the Palaly High Security Zone. They have vowed to keep protesting until their ancestral lands are returned.