Colombo (News1st) – Wild elephants put a damper on New Year celebrations in the village of Hadilla, Gonnoruwa in the Hambantota District.

Shortly after the village went to sleep, having made preparations to celebrate the New Year the next day, wild elephants from the proposed Hambantota Wild Elephant sanctuary entered the village. The elephants left a trail of destruction in their wake, decimating farmlands.

News 1st’s correspondent in Hambantota Roshan Ranatunga was on hand early this morning to witness the efforts made by wildlife officers and the villagers to drive the wild elephants back.

He noted that the two elephants were eventually driven back to the reserve at about 5AM today.