The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is set to play a larger role in elephant conservation, with plans underway to develop the facility into both an elephant research centre and a breeding centre, Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi said on Monday (08).

Speaking at a media briefing in Colombo, Patabendi said the initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen elephant conservation and management in Sri Lanka.

“We hope to develop the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage as a research centre for elephants and also as an elephant breeding centre,” the minister said.

He also announced plans to appoint a committee representing all relevant stakeholders to examine the use of domesticated elephants for cultural and religious activities and formulate a long-term framework for the sector.

“We intend to appoint a committee representing all stakeholders to prepare a programme on how domesticated elephants can be provided for cultural activities in the future,” he said.

Meanwhile, the minister said authorities have informed the Supreme Court of plans to update and implement a national action plan prepared by experts in 2020 to address the human-elephant conflict.

According to Patabendi, although the strategy was developed by specialists in the field, it was never legally enforced by previous administrations.

“There is a programme prepared by experts in 2020 to address the human-elephant conflict. However, the legal mechanisms required to implement that programme were never put in place. We have decided to update that plan and move forward with its implementation,” he said.