Sajith launches Kavantissa Elephant Protection Organisation

Daily Mirror reports that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa announced a community-based organisation named the Kavantissa Elephant Protection Organisation. It is intended to investigate the tusker’s death and work to protect Sri Lanka’s elephant population and biodiversity. Newswire describes a new elephant-protection initiative launched in Kavantissa’s memory.

Daily Mirror reports that Kavantissa died the day before its report and that Premadasa urged authorities to involve foreign experts in the post-mortem examination. Newswire separately reports that Premadasa called for an independent and transparent investigation into the death.

Newswire and Hiru News report that Premadasa called for constitutional amendments to recognise rights for elephants, wildlife, biodiversity and the environment. Hiru News also frames the death as raising questions about Sri Lanka’s protection of wild elephants.

Newswire reports that environmental organisations and wildlife activists staged a protest outside the Environment Ministry, demanding action over Kavantissa’s death. Hiru News’ Sinhala- and Tamil-language headlines also report a protest outside the ministry. Newswire reports that Wildlife Conservation Director General Ranjan Marasinghe defended the department’s protection efforts, but the available report excerpt gives no further details of his response.

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.