Colombo, March 3 || Sri Lanka Railways announced on Monday that it will implement new speed limits and revised night train schedules in areas prone to elephant crossings to prevent frequent train-elephant collisions.
The Department of Railways said the revised schedule will take effect on March 7, 2025, adding that trains will now operate outside peak elephant movement hours to minimise risks, with speed limits enforced in high-risk zones.
Officials acknowledged that the new restrictions may cause potential delays, but emphasised that reducing train speeds is necessary to protect Sri Lanka's wildlife.
Train collisions with elephants occur frequently in certain areas of the country. On February 20, a train accident in Gal Oya killed seven wild elephants.
Last month, the Lankan government had announced plans to establish five elephant corridors in its north-central province to reduce human-elephant conflicts.
The island nation's north-central province has experienced the highest number of human-elephant conflict incidents compared to other regions, according to the state media.
Out of the province's 29 Divisional Secretariat Divisions, 27 have seen a sharp increase in human-elephant conflicts in recent years, according to the report.
To address the issue, authorities have decided to create five elephant corridors. Additional measures include preventing encroachment on protected areas, managing elephant habitats by cultivating grasslands, and rehabilitating water tanks in conservation zones, the state media reported.