The Court of Appeal has directed State authorities to take measures to prevent wild elephant deaths caused by train collisions, in a judgment delivered on 10 September.
Court of Appeal Judge Dr D. F. H. Gunawardhana granted writs of mandamus in CA (Writ) Application No. 318/2025. The case followed a collision between the Batticaloa–Colombo Meenagaya Express and a herd of wild elephants that killed seven elephants. It was heard with a connected application, No. 319/2025.
The Court ordered the Director-General of Wildlife Conservation to prepare or implement a national plan, and a management plan for National Reserves, to address wildlife deaths caused by infrastructure and related human activities. The official must report to Court on the measures taken.
The General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways was directed to report on training for locomotive pilots and guards, including simulator-based training, and on the regulation of train speeds at identified elephant crossings.
One petitioner was a surviving elephant from the collision, represented by the Centre for Eco-Cultural Studies as its next friend. The Court held that it had a duty to protect the animal, referring to legal developments in Ecuador, India, Argentina and Pakistan.
Elephant deaths on railway lines are a repeated concern for communities and travellers on routes through wildlife areas.
The Court directed that the matter be called again after three months to review progress.
