Three-Member Committee Appointed to Probe Kavantissa’s Treatment and Death

COLOMBO(News 1st): The Director General of Wildlife has appointed a three-member committee to investigate the entire treatment process and related events concerning the elephant 'Kavantissa'.

The committee is chaired by Anoma Priyadarshani, Director of Operations at the Department of National Zoological Gardens.

The other members are A. L. Basnayake, Director of Investigations at the Ministry of Environment, and H. E. L. de Seram, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Peradeniya.

Director General of Wildlife Ranjan Marasinghe stated that the committee has been instructed to submit its report within one month.

Meanwhile, another investigation committee has already initiated inquiries into the death of the elephant 'Kavantissa' on the instructions of the President.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has also launched a separate investigation into the incident.

Police stated that the CID investigative team recorded statements yesterday from officers attached to several Range Forest Offices.

The tusker 'Kavantissa', who was being treated by wildlife veterinarians for a gunshot wound to its front right leg, passed away last Friday after collapsing in a paddy field in the Siyambalangamuwa Yaya 3 area.