Elephant–train collisions in Sri Lanka are being targeted through a new three-year Corporate Social Responsibility initiative launched by People’s Bank, combining advanced detection technology with wildlife conservation and railway safety measures.
Elephant–train collisions in Sri Lanka targeted through a three-year technology project
The project, fully funded by People’s Bank, brings together Clean Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Railways, the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Department of Forest Conservation in an effort to address one of the country’s most serious wildlife conservation challenges.
An agreement formalising the initiative was signed on September 1, 2026, establishing a three-year framework for implementing an Early Warning System at railway locations identified as high-risk areas for elephant movements. Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, People’s Bank Chairman Chandana Guniyangoda, Chief Executive Officer/General Manager Clive Fonseka, members of the bank’s Board of Directors and other officials attended the signing ceremony.
At the centre of the project is a technology-based system designed to detect elephants approaching or moving near railway tracks before they enter a critical danger zone. The system combines ground vibration sensors, acoustic sensors, FMCW radar, thermal sensors and beam sensors, with solar power and long-range LoRa wireless communication supporting its operation.
Once elephant movement is detected and confirmed within a defined danger area, the system is designed to issue warnings through trackside lights, alerts inside train locomotives and notifications to railway control systems. The additional response time could allow train drivers and railway personnel to take appropriate safety measures before a collision occurs.
The initiative identifies 39 critical locations covering approximately 89 kilometres of railway track as collision hotspots requiring the Early Warning System. During the first phase, People’s Bank will finance the installation of 13 systems at priority locations identified by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
A pilot project will subsequently be implemented along a 14-kilometre railway section between Habarana and Hataraskotuwa, an area considered particularly vulnerable to elephant–train collisions in Sri Lanka. The pilot is expected to provide practical experience on the effectiveness of the technology and help inform future expansion of the system to other identified hotspots.
People’s Bank will act as the principal financier, covering the procurement and installation of the technological infrastructure and equipment. Sri Lanka Railways will be responsible for supporting infrastructure construction, introducing speed-control measures and multi-aspect signalling systems, while also training locomotive drivers to follow enhanced safety procedures in high-risk areas.
The Department of Wildlife Conservation will complement the technology-based approach with habitat management measures. These include establishing artificial water sources and improving food availability within forest habitats, with the objective of reducing the movement of elephants towards railway corridors.
A Centralised Monitoring Station will also oversee the system’s performance, identify faults, coordinate maintenance and monitor operational data. The participating agencies will additionally conduct awareness and educational programmes for railway employees, communities living near affected areas and the wider public.
The project forms part of People’s Bank’s broader People’s Bank CSR efforts and is aligned with the Government’s Clean Sri Lanka Programme, linking environmental protection with safer infrastructure and sustainable development.
People’s Bank Chairman Chandana Guniyangoda said the state-owned bank was proud to support a national initiative that brings together technology, collaboration and conservation to protect Sri Lanka’s elephant population while improving railway safety.
CEO/General Manager Clive Fonseka described the elephant population as an invaluable national asset and said the project reflected the bank’s commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible corporate citizenship.
The need for such measures has become increasingly urgent as habitat fragmentation and expanding infrastructure have intensified pressure on Sri Lanka’s wildlife. The country’s elephant population, estimated at 5,879 in 2011, had declined to approximately 4,000 by 2024, according to the figures provided for the project. A total of 386 elephant deaths were recorded during 2024.
Although train collisions account for only part of the country’s elephant deaths, railway lines passing through elephant habitats in the North Central, Eastern and Southern provinces have emerged as significant areas of concern. The identification of 39 collision hotspots highlights the geographical scale of the challenge.
The technology being introduced under the project was designed by elephant conservationist and engineer Irosh Perera. People’s Bank began discussions with the Department of Wildlife Conservation after recognising the need for a practical and sustainable solution. Officials connected to the Clean Sri Lanka Programme subsequently facilitated discussions involving the relevant government agencies, People’s Bank and the system’s designer.
The approach reflects a broader shift towards combining elephant conservation with technology and infrastructure management rather than relying solely on conventional wildlife protection measures. By integrating early detection, railway operational controls, habitat management and public awareness, the project aims to address the problem from several angles.
For Sri Lanka, reducing elephant deaths on railway lines has implications beyond wildlife conservation. The country’s Asian elephant population has ecological, cultural and economic significance, while collisions can also create serious safety risks for railway operations and passengers.
If the pilot demonstrates sustained effectiveness, the programme could provide a model for extending technology-assisted prevention measures to other high-risk railway corridors. The immediate objective, however, remains clear: provide railway authorities with earlier warnings, reduce the likelihood of fatal encounters and create safer conditions in areas where railway infrastructure and elephant habitats overlap.
Through the three-year initiative, People’s Bank and its government partners are seeking to establish a practical framework for addressing elephant–train collisions in Sri Lanka while supporting the wider goals of environmental sustainability, responsible infrastructure development and wildlife protection.