Special Program to Prevent Elephant-Train Collisions

COLOMBO (News 1st) - A special program has been launched to reduce the number of wild elephant deaths caused by train accidents. 

This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Department of Railways and the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

The program focuses on the section between Galoya and Hingurakgoda along the Trincomalee railway line, where elephant-train collisions have occurred frequently. 

As part of the program, forest cover is being cleared along a 46-kilometer stretch of the railway line.

Additionally, efforts are underway to restore railway signal towers and fill gaps between the sleepers with chipped stone, enhancing safety and reducing the risk of accidents involving elephants.