The foundation is situated on a 15-acre estate by the name of Samaragiri, which is located 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Kegalle, within the Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka.

MEF strives to improve the care and treatment of Sri Lankan elephants whilst increasing awareness about the crippling conditions many of them face throughout the country.

[1] Tourists can observe and ride the elephants at MEF as well as assist with their daily washing in the Kuda Oya River that runs through the grounds.

MEF also runs the Footsteps Elephant Consultancy, the only mahout training program to be recognized and accredited by the Sri Lankan Department of Wildlife.

[3] Many of the elephants are recovered from the logging industry, within which poor living and working conditions can cause tusk injuries, potentially resulting in breakages, nerve damage, and gum disease.

[citation needed] Continuous efforts are made to ensure that each elephant's day and night beds are kept clean and proper health standards upheld.

This relationship has led to the establishment of a Mobile Veterinary Unit (MVU) that provides medical services for sick and injured elephants throughout the country.

International volunteers contribute to the daily tasks involved in caring for the elephants and help to continue developing MEF as charity organization.

Volunteers are also involved with various projects that help manage the sanctuary grounds, raise funds, and create awareness about the state of both captive and wild elephants in Sri Lanka.

The project, based in the rural community near Habarana, aims to promote new farming techniques that increase crop security and educate local people on the importance of protecting wild elephants.

Volunteers, along with local farmers, spend their nights in tree houses that overlook the farmlands, searching for and monitoring the wild elephant populations.

The conservation effort hopes that by educating farmers and their families, it will be able to provide them with the resources they need to defend their crops, and thus no longer view the wild elephant as a pest.