The death of “Sujeewa,” a female elephant held under state custody for nearly a decade, has ignited renewed calls for accountability, transparency, and urgent reform in Sri Lanka’s handling of wildlife crime—particularly the shadowy networks behind elephant smuggling.
Environmental conservationist and researcher Supun Lahiru Prakash has urged authorities, including the Ministry of Environment and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), to launch an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the elephant’s death. His concerns echo a growing unease among conservationists who see the incident not as an isolated tragedy, but as part of a troubling pattern.
Sujeewa was taken…