Road Development Authority (RDA) was called to remove a wild elephant that wandered onto the Southern Expressway, on the Hambantota-Mattala stretch, late last evening (18).

The incident occurred at around eleven o'clock at night, near the 1.9-kilometre mark of the E6 section, where the elephant is reported to have damaged the electric fence before accessing the motorway.

According to reports, the animal proceeded to walk along the highway for approximately three kilometres.

RDA officials drew the elephant off the road using firecrackers.

The animal is said to have exited the expresswayat the Mattala interchange and entered the adjacent forest.

Police officers also assisted at the scene, reportedly halting vehicles from both entering and exiting the expressway via the Mattala interchange during the operation to ensure public safety.