Sri Lanka, Oct. 9 -- The Court of Appeal has directed State authorities to take measures to prevent wild elephant deaths caused by train collisions, in a landmark environmental ruling that calls for improved wildlife management, safer railway operations and continued judicial oversight.

The judgment was delivered on September 10, 2026, by Court of Appeal Judge Dr D. F. H. Gunawardhana in a public-interest writ application filed following the collision between the Batticaloa-Colombo "Meenagaya" Express and a herd of wild elephants, which killed seven elephants.

The Court granted writs of mandamus in CA (Writ) Application No. 318/2025 and issued a series of directions aimed at preventing further wildlife deaths caused by infrastructure a...