General

Authorities in Sri Lanka have started an investigation into a disturbing video that appears to show a man torturing and setting fire to a wild elephant in the Ambagahawala region of Seeppukulama, Mihintale. The Department of Wildlife Conservation reported that they will present details about the elephant's death to the court today, on the 17th. They also mentioned that the individual responsible for the elephant's injuries has not been captured yet. Wildlife officers from the Anuradhapura Wildlife Sanctuary are working with Military Intelligence officers to find and arrest the suspect. The deceased elephant was a male, estimated to be between 50 and 55 years old, and stood about nine feet tall. It had been previously spotted in the area suffering from a gunshot wound in its front left leg and received medical attention from the Pandulagama Veterinary Office on May 14, June 4, and July 3, 2025. After those treatments, there were no more sightings of the elephant, though wildlife officers continued to monitor the situation in Anuradhapura. Recently, officers learned that the elephant had been discovered lying on a piece of land in Ambagahawala with burn wounds and gunshot injuries. When notified, veterinary surgeon Udeshika Madhuwanthi and staff from the Pandulagama Veterinary Office went to the scene to provide treatment.