Minister Bimal Ratnayake has announced a low-cost solution to address the increasing number of wild elephant deaths on railway lines, proposing a community-based alert system that could significantly reduce collisions.
Speaking in Parliament, Ratnayake stated that while the Railway Department has discussed this idea before, no concrete steps have been taken to implement it. He emphasized the need for immediate action, rather than waiting for expensive long-term solutions like flyovers.
Under this plan, local villagers living near railway tracks would be encouraged to report elephant sightings to station masters via a dedicated phone line. The station masters would then promptly inform train drivers, allowing them to slow down or take precautions when passing through affected areas.
The minister believes that this simple and cost-effective approach could drastically reduce elephant fatalities, offering a practical interim solution while more comprehensive strategies are explored.
The proposal has sparked discussions on integrating local communities into wildlife conservation efforts, as Sri Lanka continues to grapple with the challenge of human-elephant conflicts and railway safety concerns.
