News
Amidst shortage of perahera elephants, nilames ask for licence to capture
View(s):By L B Senaratne
The grandeur of the Kandy ritual known as the “Kandy Esala Maha Perahera” may soon fade away, said the Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela, at the final briefing for the 2024 pageant held at the Kandy Maligawa Complex.
Outlining the scarcity of elephants as the President of the Domesticated Elephants Association, and the authority of the pageant, he said that there are only 96 domesticated elephants including tuskers in the country and when there are two peraheras as there are this year – the Maha Saman Devala Perahera at Sabaragamuwa – the distribution of elephants by the owners becomes a problem.
A dearth of perahera elephants (File photo)
The problem has been highlighted to the authorities and the State but there had been no definite response. The grandeur expected from the Sri Dalada Maligawa and the devales would fade away, but the rituals would continue.
The tourist attraction would only have available elephants, dancers and the rest of the attachments.
Thought should be given by the State to issue licences to capture elephants over five feet in height, he added.
The Basnayake Nilames of the four devales, Mahendra Ratwatte, A M P S Bandaranaike, Hemantha Herath and Duminda Udurawana were also present at the meeting.
Of the 96 domesticated elephants 15 are not fit to take part in the perahera daily due to their old age and failing health. Normally during the months the perahera is held, around five fall in ‘musk’ – then they become unmanageable.
The Sri Dalada Maligawa has a herd that could take part in the perahera as there had been donations from people here and abroad. But this was not the case for the devales.
Currently, the Sabaragamuwa Saman Devale Perahera is to proceed during this period and the division of the domesticated elephants between the two Esala peraheras has become a problem.
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