South Asia Grants Support Elephant Conservation in Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, elephants are illegally traded and exploited, often for religious processions and as status symbols. Many of these elephants are held without proper licenses, leading to neglect and inadequate care. Despite some existing laws, a 2021 gazette, an administrative part of a country that publishes the text of new laws, legal notices, and court decisions, allowed for the confiscated elephants to be returned to the individuals illegally possessing them.
With support from our South Asia Grants Program, the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) filed a petition in 2021 challenging the gazette.
The Impact
On May 31, 2024, Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal delivered a landmark ruling in response to the CEJ petition that:
- Nullified the 2021 gazette, making the possession of animals without a license illegal.
- Instructed authorities to prosecute individuals holding elephants without proper licenses.
- Issued a Writ of Certiorari, effectively cancelling all decisions related to the registering and licensing of elephants under the gazette.
The Asia Foundation is committed to continuing legal advocacy and strengthening partnerships with the CEJ to ensure long-term solutions related to the conservation of Sri Lanka’s elephants and vulnerable species.
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Eelynn Sim, Director, Strategy and Programs
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