Sri Lanka, July 23 -- The Ministry of Environment has requested the Sri Lanka Police to launch a special investigation into the recent spate of wild elephant deaths caused by gunshot wounds, urging strong legal action against those responsible.

In a letter to Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasuriya, Environment Ministry Secretary K.R. Uduwawala has called for the Criminal Investigation Dipartment (CID) to take over the case, following a report from the Director General of Wildlife regarding four elephant carcasses found in the Digampathaha and Galgamuwa areas of Sigiriya.

The Ministry raised alarm over a growing trend of elephants being shot at, allegedly by poachers, illegal gun owners or farmers living near prot...