Pinnawala Elephant orphanage will not be shifted

Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Mahipala Herath said yesterday that there was no truth whatsoever in the rumours that the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was to be removed to a different venue.

He said the President and the Economic Development Minister had given him instructions to make the Elephant Orphanage more attractive to foreign tourists after finding out its shortcomings.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage sources said that the number of foreign tourists visiting it had increased recently.

Sometimes the daily collection from entry ticket sales reach even Rs two million, it was revealed. Two discussions with regards to the elephant orphanage and Sri Lanka’s Second Zoological Garden to be set up near it were held yesterday separately.