Namal alleges Environment Minister supplied firearms to shoot elephants

Daily Mirror and Sri Lanka Mirror report that MP Namal Rajapaksa alleged the Environment Minister, identified by Daily Mirror as Dr. Dhammika Patabendi, supplied firearms to people and directed them to shoot animals entering chena cultivations, field huts or homes. The reports present this as Rajapaksa’s allegation.

Sri Lanka Mirror reports that Rajapaksa raised the matter in Parliament on the 20th, describing the lack of attention to the shooting of Kawanthissa for a month and a half as a serious concern. It also says he referred to the need to clear elephant corridors, which he said successive governments had addressed at times.

Daily Mirror and Sri Lanka Mirror identify the elephant as Kavantissa or Kawanthissa and report that he died after being shot. Lanka Business Online spells the name Kavanthissa and says the tusker died from gunshot injuries after weeks of pain; it alleges delays and shortcomings in the veterinary response, and reports that his neck was cut to recover his tusks.

Lanka Business Online reports that environmentalists, civil society members and animal-rights activists protested outside government offices and sought accountability, with environmental scientist and activist Dr. Ajantha Perera leading the protest. The supplied reports do not give a response from the minister or say what action will follow.

Written automatically by AI from the outlets’ own reports, and not reviewed by an editor. It can be wrong — the original report is the authority.