News
SL Railways installs CCTV cameras at key points to prevent elephant deaths
View(s):
The CCTV camera at the Galgamuwa corridor
By Tharushi Weerasinghe
Sri Lanka Railways has installed solar-powered CCTV cameras at two key elephant corridors, in Galgamuwa and Gal Oya, to help prevent elephant-train collisions along some of the country’s most vulnerable rail tracks.
Electrical Engineer (Power) E.M. Dharmasiri, attached to the Chief Mechanical Engineer’s Department, said the system was set up two months ago and is operational with a 24-hour live feed. “For now, we have no plans for expansion. These are the critical places at the moment,” he said, noting that the project was initiated by former General Manager of Railways Dhammika Jayasundara.
The equipment, funded by the department, costs about Rs. 100,000 for hardware such as cameras and SIM cards. The cameras are focused on the corridors, and when elephants cross, a signal will be sent to the railway’s control system. “The District Superintendent in Anuradhapura, who handles the control system, will receive the signal, and the control office, which also has admin access, will inform the station before the point,. The station will then alert the driver,” Mr. Dharmasiri explained.
The real-time communication system is being developed in collaboration with the Universities of Peradeniya and Moratuwa, which are creating an app to keep train drivers informed. Those with administrative privileges can view the live feed directly.
A 2023 study by the Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, University of Colombo, identified six hotspots for elephant-train collisions between 2010 and 2023, mainly along the northern and eastern lines. These included stretches between Gal Oya Junction–Trincomalee, Maho Junction–Batticaloa, Maho Junction–Anuradhapura, and other segments in the island’s northwest. The University of Colombo study found that collision sites were significantly closer to protected areas than non-collision points and farther from the previous railway station. Researchers noted that proximity to protected areas likely reflected higher elephant activity, while the greater distance from stations may suggest that train speeds contribute to collision risk. Contrary to popular belief, access to water sources and railway line curvature were not linked to incidents. The study called for targeted interventions in these high-risk zones to reduce elephant-train collisions.
The installation comes after a tragic accident in February this year near the 141st milepost between Gal Oya and Hingurakgoda, which killed six elephants, including two calves.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!