The victim, Piyashantha de Silva (35), a resident of Middaramulla in Ahungalla, had visited the temple with a group of tourists when the elephant attacked him as he approached it to take a selfie.The seriously injured tour guide was rushed to the Balapitiya Base Hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Aluthgama Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.