• The causeway had been built by a businessman to reach a sand mining site

By Sumanasiri Gunatilleka and Nayanajeewa Bandara   

Two wild elephants that fell into the Kirindi Oya and  drifted away by floods had jammed in a causeway and drowned. The  carcasses were recovered yesterday by the villagers in Thululla in  Kudaoya.   

Wildlife conservators who rushed to the scene on  information of the residents of the area, lifted the carcasses onto the  bank with a backhoe.   

They said one of the jumbos was six feet tall and about 30  years of age and the other six feet tall and about 25 years of age.   

Residents of the area said the causeway had been built across the  river by a businessman to reach a sand mining site and a quarry.  

Surgeon of the Wildlife Department Dr. Ananda  Dharmakirthi, Wellawaya Ranage Conservator Nishantha Premalal and OIC  Kudaoya Police CI S.T.M. Rioyaz are conducting investigations.