A child has been killed by an elephant at Matara, Devinuwara Essela Perehara 2010

A child has been killed by an elephant at Matara, Devinuwara Essela Perehara (peli) on 24th July.

I myself was at that place when the incident was happened at Devinuwara. I was about 100 - 150 meters away from the incident. According to the eye witnesses , After the Essela peli perehara, the boys of Kawadi group was dancing around the Dewalaya. one of elephant had got a boy around 16, who was in the Kavadi group, from the trunk and killed on the floor using its leg. The people around him began to run away.

I have the video on my phone the Kavadi dancing at that day, will upload for youtube later today.

That Incident reported on Daily mirror today as this.


Jumbo Thovil ends Kavadi

An elephant that went berserk at Devinuwara Upulvan Sri Vishnu Devalaya on Saturday (24) night had killed a 16-year-old youth who was performing Kavadi, Gandhara police said.

The tragic death of Tharindu Isurukumara (16) of Devinuwara had occurred soon after the conclusion of the sixth ‘Peli’ procession.

The elephant that went berserk had attempted to attack four other youths too but they had escaped unhurt.

After the tragic death Devinuwara Maha Devalaya had been closed for religious observances as it had to be cleansed to keep up with the traditions of purifying the place after a death.

Organizers had taken a decision to not to employ that elephant for the ‘Randoli’ procession.

The post-mortem inquiry of the deceased is to be conducted at Matara Base hospital. Gandara police are conducting further inquiries.