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Two Killed in Separate Wild Elephant Attacks in Sri Lanka
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka /Conflict & Security

Two Killed in Separate Wild Elephant Attacks in Sri Lanka

From Lankadeepa · () Sinhala

Translated from Sinhala, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • Two individuals, a security guard and a retired army soldier, were killed in separate wild elephant attacks in the Koslanda and Ridimaliyadda areas.
  • The security guard was fatally trampled while collecting coconuts, and the retired soldier was killed while diverting water to his paddy field.
  • Authorities are investigating the incidents, which have caused fear among residents in the affected regions.

Tragedy struck the Koslanda and Ridimaliyadda areas as wild elephants attacked and killed two men on August 15, 2026. The Uva Province Senior Deputy Inspector General's office confirmed the fatalities, sending shockwaves through the local communities.

The first victim, M. Rengasami, a 56-year-old father of four, was working as a security guard at a private coconut estate in Makaldeniya, Koslanda. He was reportedly trampled to death by a wild elephant while collecting fallen coconuts. Police stated the elephant was present in the estate when it attacked Rengasami, crushing his head.

In a separate incident in Ridimaliyadda, Y.B. Nilanthe Bandara, a 43-year-old retired army soldier and father of two, was killed by a wild elephant. Bandara had gone to divert water to his paddy field in the Dehigama 9th Canal area when the elephant attacked him, crushing his head. Residents in the Akiriyankubura area of Ridimaliyadda, where Bandara resided, are now living in fear following these devastating attacks.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Lankadeepa in Sinhala. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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