A fundamental rights petition has been filed in the Supreme Court by a group of environmental activists, requesting an order be issued to the General Manager of Railways and other authorities to take legal action against the 67-year-old train driver involved in the death of seven wild elephants after being struck by the Meenagaya train in the Habarana area last February.

The petitioners indicate that no disciplinary action yet taken against the train driver involved in this incident, and the driver continues to be on active duty.

The petition asks for the railway authorities to be directed to conduct a formal investigation into the incidents of elephants being fatally struck by trains and to take disciplinary action against the train driver and other relevant employees involved in the incident.

The petition was filed by environmental activists K. Priyadarshani S.R. Adhikaram, L.A.R Chandrasantha, Anusha David, and L.V.J. Chandrasantha.

Twelve individuals are named as respondents in the petition, including the General Manager of Railways, the Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Highways, the Director General of Wildlife, the Minister of Environment, and the Minister of Transport.

The petitioners point out that seven elephants were struck by the Meenagaya train operating on the Colombo-Batticaloa railway line on February 19.

They state that six elephants died at the scene, and an injured calf died later.

The petitioners also indicate that other elephants perished after being struck by trains on March 3, May 2, and last August 7.

The petitioners accuse the railway authorities and the Forest Conservation Department of having failed to prevent the increasing number of elephant deaths due to train collisions.

They highlight that in 2023, 488 elephant deaths occurred, with 24 caused by train strikes, and in 2024, 386 elephant deaths occurred, with eleven caused by train strikes.

The petitioners request the court to direct the General Manager of Railways to submit a report within three months detailing the measures and steps taken to prevent the rising number of elephant deaths.

The petition also seeks an interim order to the General Manager of Railways to refrain from deploying train drivers who are past the retirement age on trains operating between Gal Oya Junction and Batticaloa Railway Station and between Gal Oya Junction and Trincomalee Railway Station.