The Ministry of Defence has held urgent discussions to address repeated damage to the perimeter fence of Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) caused by elephant intrusions.

Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha chaired a high-level meeting, instructing all stakeholders including the Tri-Forces to act immediately to repair damages and develop a sustainable strategy to prevent future incidents.

Representatives from the Civil Security Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, and Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) also attended, focusing on reinforcing the fence while preserving local wildlife corridors.

The Defence Secretary emphasised that ensuring airport security must go hand-in-hand with ecological sensitivity, urging all agencies to maintain continuous coordination to execute timely and effective solutions.