Sri Lanka, Oct. 21 -- The expert committee established to investigate the death of the elephant Kavantissa and guide the national elephant protection program convened, for the first time this morning at the Presidential Secretariat under the leadership of Presidential Chief of Staff Prabath Chandrakerthi.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake appointed this expert committee to examine all facts surrounding the death of the elephant in the Galgamuwa Siyambalangamuwa area, formulate a standard operating procedure for wild elephant welfare, and present recommendations for a national elephant conservation program.

Discussions during the meeting focused extensively on the cause of death, the nature of the harm inflicted on the animal, and the i...