03rd June 2021 17:10:13 Hours
561 Brigade's 16 Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment troops of the 56 Division under the Security Force Headquarters - Wanni are round the clock observing the improvement of the health condition of an injured elephant, lying in a swamp close to Puthuvilankulam village, off Vavuniya after its helpless condition was brought to the notice of the troops.
Wildlife officials and veterinary surgeons in Vavuniya since 09 May 2021 have been continuously administering medication to the elephant, believed to have been wounded in a gunshot, directed at it by poachers or a gunman while it was roaming in the jungle area for food.
Since the Day-1 of its fall to the ground in pain, troops teamed up and began providing the injured elephant with necessary wild leaves, coconut fronds, fruits, etc as per instructions of veterinary surgeions attending to the elephant in the Wildlife Department. In order to invoke spiritual blessings for speedy recovery of the jumbo, troops got down Ven. Ananda Thero, Chief Adhikarana Sangha Nayaka of the North and East and invited him to bless the elephant who is recovering little by little.
On the guidelines given by Major General Hemantha Bandara, Commander, Security Forces - Wanni, Mr Saman Bandulasena, District Secretary for Vavuniya, Senior Superintendent of the Police, Tissa Lal de Silva, Commander 561 Brigade Brigadier R.M.P.S.B Rathnayake and the Second in Command, 16 Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment Major M.B Punchihewa also arrived at the location and discussed future course of action to be taken towards gradual recovery of the jumbo.
