Archives

Kegalle special correspondent

P. B. G. Kalugalle, one of the popular, powerful and hardworking minister during Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike's regimes visited the Kegalle General Hospital, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and several other places to see for himself the prevailing conditions there. The former minister Kalugalle who was born on January 20, 1920 reached 84 years in January this year.

The former minister visited the Kegalle General Hospital of which he was the architect with his daughter Champa Kalugalle, an attorney-at-law. Kalugalle who is in the evening of his life was so pleased to see the hospital which had been upgraded to a General Hospital catering to the entire population of Kegalle in all aspects of medical needs.

The minister in his wheel chair was taken all over the hospital by her daughter Champa accompanied by the medical staff members. He was so happy and was visibly moved and filled with tears. The former minister assured that he will speak to the present Minister of Health, Nutrition and Welfare, P. Dayaratne and do everything possible to bring about more facilities to this hospital.

He was also very keen on observing the prevailing state of affairs in the Pinanwala Elephant Orphanage which he opened in the early 1970s. He moved about here and there feeling, touching and feeding the calf elephants. This octogenarian ex-minister Kalugalle in a brief speech said that Sri Lanka was the only country in the world where there is an orphanage for elephants to be cared and looked after and that it was initiated by him owing to his love and compassion for this creature which was a symbol of our Buddhist cultural heritage.

Kalugalle bemoaned to hear that some elephants had been presented to temples and devales. He stressed that no elephants from this Elephant Orphanage be given to any organisation at any cost other than to the Dalada Maligawa, the temple of Sacred Tooth in Kandy. Kalugalle spent several hours in the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage watching the elephants bathing and frolicking in glee.

The Chief Veterinar of the "Elphant Orphanage" Dr. Chandana Rajapaksha said that the former minister's visit to the orphanage was a tribute to them and that this Elephant Orphanage came into being owing to the immense love Kalugalle had for the elephants and to conserve the species for the future generations.

www.ceylincoproperties.com

www.ppilk.com

www.crescat.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries

Produced by Lake House
Copyright © 2003 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager