Elephant closes Tempitiya-Mahaoya road for three days-by Wasantha Chandrapala
Source:Dailymirror
The Tempitiya-Mahaoya road in Ampara has been closed for traffic and pedestrian movement for the past three days due to an injured wild elephant frequenting the road.
Residents of the area said the closure of the road had disrupted civilian life.
Range Wildlife Officer Kithsirimewan said the wild elephant has been severely injured by a locally made explosive device “ Hakka Patas” and that the Ampara Veterinary Unit was providing treatments.
He said the jumbo was frequenting the road posing a serious danger to the people and that the road was closed temporary to provide them safety. He said the police and the STF were guarding the road. The official said they attempted to drive away the elephant by lighting elephant crackers but to no avail.
He said that the elephant should be taken away from the road to provide treatment and that he informed the issue to the Department of Wildlife Conservation for instructions.