Colombo, Sri Lanka – A large-scale organized racket involving the production of capsules made from elephant meat is allegedly operating in Sri Lanka, according to environmental scientist Dr. Ajantha Weerasinghe. She made this shocking revelation during a press conference held on February 17, after visiting the Ministry of Power and Energy to submit a written request urging authorities to halt unauthorized electricity connections to illegal houses and hotels near protected wildlife zones.
Dr. Weerasinghe stated that illegal power lines are causing significant elephant deaths, with at least 75 elephants killed in 2023 alone due to electrocution from unauthorized supply lines. She further claimed that there are 16 elephant crossings within protected forest reserves, including five in the Anuradhapura district, where hotels and houses have been constructed unlawfully. She questioned who granted permission for these establishments and who provided them with electricity connections, raising concerns about possible corruption and negligence by authorities.
She went on to reveal that some international markets are involved in the production of capsules made from elephant meat, and Sri Lanka is now a part of this growing global trade. According to her, poachers and traffickers are systematically killing elephants in Sri Lanka to harvest their meat for this purpose. She condemned the lack of action from government officials, stating that the failure to address this issue is enabling the continued slaughter of elephants.
Calling on authorities to immediately intervene and put an end to this illegal trade, Dr. Weerasinghe emphasized that Sri Lanka must take decisive steps to protect its wildlife before the country becomes a hub for elephant poaching and trafficking. She urged the public to demand accountability from policymakers and ensure that stronger laws and enforcement measures are put in place to prevent further harm to Sri Lanka’s endangered elephant population.
