A herd of wild elephants broke into the Kandaketiya Primary School in the Kandaketiya Divisional Secretariat Division, Badulla District, early on Friday (1), causing significant property damage, Kandaketiya Police said.
The herd, consisting of four elephants believed to have strayed from the Randenigala Forest Reserve in search of food, entered the school premises from behind. They damaged the school’s main gate, notice boards, and several concrete pillars before exiting through the main entrance and moving onto the main road.
Wildlife officers later arrived at the scene and drove the elephants back into the Randenigala Sanctuary. The herd is also reported to have destroyed a nearby banana plantation.
The principal of Kandaketiya Primary School, D.R.M. Karunadasa, has lodged a formal complaint regarding the incident.
Following instructions from Badulla District DIG Laksiri Wijesena, further investigations are being carried out by Senior Superintendent of Police Jagath Rohana, Assistant Superintendent of Police I. Vehitha Deshapriya, and other officers.
