Jumbo trouble at cement factory

W. C. B. Fernando

PUTTALAM: A marauding wild elephant entered the Palavi Cement Factory transforming the entire area into a virtual battle ground Thursday morning.

A security officer attached to the factory was killed and two officers injured when trying to drive away the enraged pachyderm. The deceased was identified as P. D. Swarnapala Nanayakkara, a security sergeant from Veyangoda and a father of three.

The injured are N. M. Wijetilleke of Tabbowa and I. M. Ratnayake of Eppawala, both Security officers. They were hospitalised in a serious condition.

Puttalam Police investigating the incident said the elephant had first entered the official quarters section of the factory around 10.00 a.m. on Thursday and Wildlife officials had been alerted.

The tragedy had occured when Wildlife officials tried to drive away the animal assisted by the Security officers.

Investigations are continuing. Meanwhile, Inquirer into Sudden Deaths Puttalam M. H. M. Shameevu who held the inquest into the death of Sergeant Swarnapala Nanayakkara at the Puttalam Hospital returned a verdict of accidental death caused by a wild elephant attack.