Cabinet approval to get 5 elephants released

Considering a revision application filed by the Attorney General’s Office against the Magistrate’s directive, the Colombo High Court Judge Manilal Waidyathilaka on May 26 set aside the Magistrate’s order.

When the case was taken up on June 06, Colombo High Court Judge Manilal Waidyathilaka further extended till June 22 the order given by him preventing the handover of the custody of 15 elephants.

We need more than 80 elephants for the Dalada Maligawa Perahera

However, the Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya made a directive on May 20, to release 15 elephants to their owners till August 31 on a Rs. 30 million bonds on each.

Sustainable Development and Wildlife Conservation Ministry is seeking Cabinet approval to release some five elephants that are currently in custody of the Wildlife Conservation Department (WCD) at Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home and Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage for the purpose of using them for the upcoming Dalada Maligawa Esala Perahera.

At a meeting held with Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera and the Elephant Owners Association (EOA) which is led by Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara, the private elephant owners made a request to the minister claiming that they need more elephants to use for the Dalada Maligawa Esala Perahera. However, both parties reached an agreement and the ministry is to submit a Cabinet Paper seeking approval to release only five elephants.

Speaking to the , the Diyawadana said there is a shortage of tuskers to be used for the upcoming Esala Perahera and therefore the request was made as a short term solution.

“We need more than 80 elephants for the Dalada Maligawa Perahera.,” he said.