‘Ali wali’ over jumbo going to Armenia

Sports and Recreation Minister Gamini Lokuge is to travel to Armenia later this month to hand over an elephant as a gift from Sri Lanka ignoring warnings from animal rights activists and without the sanction of the Wild Life Department. Mr. Lokuge confirmed to The Sunday Times that he was planning the visit and had been informed that the Armenian government was preparing a national ceremony to receive the elephant.

He said since a national ceremony has been organised he too would be going to hand over the elephant to Armenia and would be choosing what animals to bring back to Sri Lanka in exchange. Two mahouts and a veterinary surgeon would be going with the elephant. “This is not only an exchange of animals. It’s an exchange of technology as well. We are sending a group of vets to study foot problems elephants develop,” the minister said.

Asokamala, a female elephant 9 years and 2 months old who was born in the Pinnawala sanctuary is to be sent to Armenia on a special request of the Armenian government which wants another elephant to keep company with the only elephant Sri Lanka had sent to Armenia some time ago, Minister Lokuge said. Environment Minister Champika Ranawaka said his Ministry has asked for details of how the she elephant would be handled and other relevant information from the Armenian government. As soon as an answer is received, the Ministry would take a decision on permitting the transfer of the elephant to Armenia.

“We would not give permission if the answer carries any negative information,” the Minister said adding that other than granting permission, the Environment Ministry would not get involved in the matter. “We have no intention of going against the Cabinet decision either,” the Minister said.

However, Wild Life Conservation Department Director General Ananda Wijesuriya told The Sunday Times that he had not given permission to take the elephant to Armenia and despite the preparations, the country requires his permission to send the elephant. “I will look into the living conditions the elephant would be getting in Armenia before giving permission to send her. I haven’t received the relevant papers on the matter from the authorities,” he said.

According to the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species, the Government cannot exchange animals without the permission of the Wild Life Conservation Department, he said.