Threat of wild elephants in Sigiriya

By Kanchana Kumara

Local and foreign tourists and the residents of the area are facing the threat of wild elephants that feed on garbage disposed haphazardly in Sigiriya new town.  Residents of the area said that herds of wild elephants frequenting the vehicle park in Sigiriya new town were in the habit of overturning the garbage bins and feeding on leftover food.   

Drivers transporting tourists said the marauding herds that pull down the trees in the surrounding area enter the vehicle park without any fear and feed on garbage. The drivers said their vehicles parked there were at the mercy of the jumbos.   

Residents of the area said the wild elephants, if attempted to scare them away, would turn on them and give chase. They pointed out that the Central Cultural Fund that levied fees to use the vehicle park and its toilets had not focused attention on safe disposal of garbage and that it turned Sigiriya into a squalid town and that the wild elephant threat is its consequence.   

When all our attempts to contact the Secretary to Dambulla Pradesheeya Sabha failed, we contacted the Works Supervisor who said the removal of garbage had been delayed for several days and that steps were being taken to collect them soon.