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Finding elephants for perahera a jumbo issue

Locating elephants for the Kandy Esala Perahera has become a problem, Sri Dalada Maligawa Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara said.

“The tame elephant population had decreased to around a 100. About half this number is over 50 years. Around 10 tame elephants had died in the past two years. A few out of the existing animals are ill. The government is donating some elephants to the private sector and temples. We expect that around 20 elephants will join the tame elephant population through this programme,” he said.

Bandara said only matured tuskers can carry the Tooth Relic.

“There are only four tuskers who meet this standards today though we had seven last year. Navam Raja passed away. Millangoda Raja and Bothale Walawwa tuskers are too old to participate in the perahera. Indi Raja of the Dalada Maligawa, Kataragama Vasana, Nadungamuwe Wijaya Raja and the Wewala tusker are capable of carrying the Tooth Relic. However Wewala tusker is not well these days. Thankfully we do not have a problem in locating a tusker to carry the Tooth Relic but there has been problems in finding tuskers to take part in the devala pereharas,” he said.

The Dondra devala perahera will also be held parallel to the Kandy Esala perahera.

“The best solution is to import a few elephants from India. Tuskers from Thailand and Myanmar are short. Therefore they cannot carry the Tooth Relic in the perahera,” he said adding that around 70 elephants are taking part in this year’s perahera.

“The artistes taking part in the event have been categorised into three sectors: traditional, skilled and veteran. Their payments will differ according to these categories. This enables us to select well qualified artistes to take part in the pageant. Being a part of the Kandy Esala perahera will be a high qualification for them,” Bandara said.

Rs 40 million is set aside for the Dalada perahera. Thirty tons of copra costs Rs 5 million. Rs 150,000 goes for one elephant for 10 days. The Mahanuwara Esala Perahera Trust will fund the devala peraheras. The Kandy Esala perahera will parade the streets till August 14.

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