'Stop using jumbos to promote sales'

Priyan de Silva, Matara Corr.

Vendors with stalls along the Uda Walawe - Thanamalwila road feed elephants with titbits so that they hang around the area; this is used as a ploy to promote sales to travellers. At times the beasts get impatient and get at the goodies which are just a few feet away.

There have been instances where the electrified fence was knocked down by these animals. At night the vendors have to light log fires near the stalls to discourage the pachyderms from raiding the shops. It is time that officials took steps to prevent tempting these innocent beasts to plunder.