Although the villagers have chased the elephant away using firecrackers, the storage facility has been damaged.

The incident follows a similar incident in Minneriya yesterday where a journalist was killed. The victim is 46-year old Priyantha Rathnayaka, who is a provincial journalist and a father of three.

Interpretation, wrong

Speaking to 'Sri Lanka Mirror', environmentalist Jagath Gunewardena says that the issue needs to be identified before any solution is sought.

Noting that the such incidents being interpreted as man-jumbo clashes by media is wrong, he says that this is more of an issue sprung from human activities.

Electric fence, not a solution

'Electric fences or chasing elephants are only temporary solutions. Humans are invading the elephant habitat and as a result elephants charge into villages in search of food,' he says.

'Compared to other animals, elephants retaliate. A solution cannot be sought in a manner similar to breaking up a fight between two humans,' he adds.

Mr. Gunewardena says that a permanent solution should be sought by taking several measures including identifying behaviours and habitat of elephants as well as creating feeding grounds.