Sri Lanka Orders One-Week Restoration of Elephant Fences

January 11, 2026

Sri Lanka’s Environment Minister Dhammika Patabendi has directed that damaged elephant fences across the country be restored within one week, following widespread destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah in late 2025. The order was issued during a progress review meeting on the cyclone’s environmental impact.

Cyclone Ditwah severely damaged thousands of kilometres of electric elephant fencing — crucial barriers meant to minimise human-elephant conflict. These fences help keep wild elephants out of agricultural lands and villages while guiding them through designated wildlife zones.

Why Fences Matter: Human-Elephant Conflict

Sri Lanka has long grappled with a serious human-elephant conflict. Officials have noted that destruction of these fences changes elephant movement and brings herds into closer contact with human settlements, leading to increased incidents of crop damage, injuries, and fatalities among both humans and elephants.

The country’s Environment Ministry reported that hundreds of electric fence kilometres were destroyed in key districts such as Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, Kurunegala, and Puttalam, exacerbating conflicts between communities and wildlife.

Government’s One-Week Restoration Order

Minister Patabendi’s directive aims to complete repairs swiftly to reduce the risk of elephants straying into farmlands and villages. The one-week timeline underscores the urgency of restoring these barriers before further escalation occurs.

Authorities have already begun reconstruction efforts in several affected districts, and a broader nationwide plan is expected to accelerate fence repairs over the next several days.

Broader Cyclone Response and Conservation Efforts

The restoration of elephant fences is part of Sri Lanka’s larger recovery strategy following Cyclone Ditwah, which caused widespread destruction, including loss of homes and infrastructure. Alongside housing reconstruction and other relief initiatives, environmental protection measures are being prioritised to balance wildlife conservation with community safety.

Experts say that repairing elephant fences and strengthening wildlife protection measures will be critical to reducing conflict and safeguarding both rural livelihoods and Sri Lanka’s iconic wild elephant population in the months ahead.