Environmentalists to move SC against return of 14 elephants to those who kept them previously

By Ifham Nizam

Environmentalists backed by Ven. Omalpe Sobitha said yesterday they would appeal against the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court order that 14 elephant calves taken into protective custody by the Wildlife Department, alleging illegal capture, be retunred to those who previously kept them.

They said they would do so to prevent a grave injustice being caused to the elephants.

Naturalist Sajeewa Chamikara alleged that order had come from none other than President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, when The Island queried whether the matter was taken up with President and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Rally for Animal Rights and Environment (RARE) Communication Coordinator, Panchali Panapitiya all 14 elephants were now juveniles and the sheer brutality and force that woudl be used to “tame” them was unthinkable. She said among the elephants to be returned was an animal which was gifted by then President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the previous Rajapaksa government. The elephant was later voluntarily handed over to the Pinnawala Orphanage.

The other elephants are owned by Dishan Wickremaratna – Matara, Waruna Kannangara – Horana, Chathuranga Weerasinghe – Alawwa, S.N. Roshan – Pannipitiya, Kamal Kithsiri – Kottawa, Samantha Wijemanna – Amithirigala, Buddhika Deshapriya – Hingula, Chief incumbent of Sri Sambodhi Viharaya – Colombo 7, Ajith Siri Kumara – Hokandara, Hasanthi Champika Karunaratna – Ganegoda and Bharatha Amaratunga – Meegoda.

Nature lovers Rukshan Jayawardene, Dr. Jagath Gunawardana, Sajeewa Chamikara, Hemantha Withanage, Supun Lahiru Prakash, Ravindranath Dabare, Nayanaka Ranwella and many other veteran conservationists and activists also expressed concern about the government’s plan.

Hemantha Withanage of Centre for Environmental Justice said that a recent gazette notification which enabled persons to seek fresh registration of elephants held with them had been cited.

Environmental Lawyer Dr. Jagath Gunawardena said that the particular gazette notification had been issued only recently but made applicable to cases filed earlier.