A formal investigation into the shooting at Sita elephant with rubber bullets
Posted on October 1st, 2023
Ministry of Defence – Media Centre
- Acting Defence Minister Thennakoon ordered a formal internal investigation
As elephants from different parts of the country participate in the annual Mahiyangana Perahera, the chief prelate of the Mahiyangana temple has made a request to the Wildlife Department to establish a wildlife team in the temple to drive out wild elephants as there is frequent roaming of these animals in the area.
In response to the request, a team of Wildlife Department officers along with one Civil Security Department (CSD) personnel had been entrusted to drive away the wild elephants.
On 30.09.2023 at around 3.15 am, an incident was reported of rubber bullets been fired at an elephant named Sita, which had been kept near the banks of the Mahaweli River presuming it to be a wild elephant. The CSD has commenced an internal disciplinary investigation on this incident.
Further, the Acting Minister of Defence Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon has ordered relevant authorities to conduct a formal internal investigation in this regard.
Disciplinary action will be taken against the CSD personnel for misconduct if he was found to have committed any disciplinary offense while on duty.