Sri Lanka Launches Nationwide Operation to Protect Elephants

In a move aimed at reducing the escalating conflict between people and the country’s iconic elephants, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Environment announced the launch of the Hasthi Sena operation on Monday, November 2. The initiative is set to protect elephants across the island, focusing first on a group of 17 individuals identified as particularly vulnerable.

According to the announcement, the operation will begin in the North‑Western Wildlife Region, a hotspot for human‑elephant encounters. Ng then rans the focus of the operation, Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi said the first phase would safeguard around 80 percent of areas currently inhabited by elephants, with the remaining proportion to be covered by a secondary program.

The Hasthi Sena effort represents a joint effort among three key government bodies: the Ministry of Environment, the armed forces and the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Minister Patabendi emphasized that the collaboration would allow a more coordinated response to the threat.

Key tactics will include intensive raids on property and infrastructure that pose risks to elephants. The ministry will target illegal firearms, a practice increasingly common in the bush, as well as "hakka pata"—an explosive bait used by some hunters to scare elephants. Authorities will also dismantle unauthorized electric fences, which can damage or kill the animals, and remove snares that have been used to trap them.

The Department of Wildlife Conservation will provide experts to monitor the elephants’ behavior, while armed forces units will help secure the wider regions where the animals roam. The joint task force expects to reduce the number of incidents in which elephants stray into agricultural fields or villages.

Environment Minister Patabendi noted that the operation is part of a broader strategy to diminish the stresses that bring humans and elephants into conflict. He said the plan includes community outreach and education, as well as enforcing legal penalties against offenders who endanger wildlife.

Locals in the North‑Western Wildlife Region report that last year’s clashes resulted in significant crop damage and a handful of injuries. The new operation is intended to prevent working in farms, especially during dusk and dawn, when elephants are most likely to cross paths with people.

Officials expect the initial 17 elephants to benefit from immediate protective measures—such as monitoring and firefighting drills—while the rest of the 80 percent of habitat will receive periodic patrols and reassessment. The program is planned to run for two years, with a review after one year to gauge its effectiveness and plan adjustments.

The announcement came at a time when Sri Lanka is facing intense criticism from conservation groups over insufficient protection for wildlife. The Hasthi Sena operation arrives as a concrete statement that the government is serious about adopting multi‑agency solutions.

Environmental NGOs circulating the press release urged that the operation also include stricter enforcement against trafficking by elephants, but the government did not respond to further inquiries. The Ministry’s statement refrains from naming potential sources of funding beyond the national budget.

With the operation now in effect, the authorities began on Sunday sending teams to establish perimeters in known elephant corridors. The presence of armed forces at key points stands as a deterrent to those who might try to harm wildlife for profit.

As the Hasthi Sena program moves forward, the government will likely look to expand its scope to cover the remaining 20 percent of elephant territory outside the initial 80 percent, although it plans to do so in a separate phase. The overall aim is a comprehensive island‑wide effort to ensure that humans and elephants can coexist safely.