Five More Arrests Over Killing of Sri Lanka's Iconic Elephant Kavantissa

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan authorities have arrested five more suspects in connection with the shooting of Kavantissa, one of the country's most iconic wild elephants.

The arrests were made during a series of joint operations conducted by the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Walana Central Anti-Corruption Strike Force and police officers. Wildlife officials said the five suspects are also believed to have links to other illegal activities and associated operations.

The suspects are currently being questioned by wildlife officers and the Galgamuwa Police as investigators work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Authorities are also probing whether an organised criminal network targeting wild animals was operating in the area and whether the firearm used in the attack can be linked to other offences.

Earlier, a Skills Development Officer attached to the Ehetuwewa Divisional Secretariat was arrested in connection with the shooting. Police said officers recovered a foreign-manufactured 12-bore firearm, a locally-made weapon and 24 rounds of ammunition from the suspect's possession.

The arrest was made during a joint operation carried out by the Walana Anti-Corruption Unit and wildlife officers in the Meegalewa area. Another suspect linked to the incident was later taken into custody in Hunugallewa, and both individuals are due to be produced before the Mahawa Magistrate's Court.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched a separate investigation into the death of the elephant. The CID said a team of officers has been dispatched to Usgala Siyambalangamuwa to gather evidence and conduct inquiries.

The investigation was initiated following complaints made by the Ministry of Environment, which requested both the CID and the Police to conduct a comprehensive probe into the circumstances surrounding the animal's death.

In a further escalation of the inquiry, Acting Inspector General of Police Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasooriya has directed the CID to submit an investigation report before November 17, detailing its findings, observations and recommendations. The order stipulates that the investigation must be supervised by an Assistant Superintendent of Police or a more senior officer.

The death of Kavantissa generated public attention both in Sri Lanka and on social media, where the tusker had become widely recognised. Considered one of the largest and tallest wild elephants recorded in Sri Lanka's natural habitat, Kavantissa was regarded as a symbol of the country's rich wildlife heritage.

The elephant sustained a gunshot injury to its front right leg on September 23. After weeks of concern over its condition, Kavantissa was found dead last Friday in a paddy field in the Usgala Siyambalangamuwa Yaya 03 area under the jurisdiction of the Meegalewa Wildlife Office.

Final rites for the elephant were carried out during the weekened, while samples from the carcass have been sent to a panel of experts from the University of Peradeniya for detailed scientific examination. Authorities hope the analysis will help determine the precise cause of death and provide crucial evidence for the ongoing criminal investigation.