Special pool of elephants to be formed for peraheras

Cabinet has approved a proposal to establish a pool of about 35 elephants under the Department of Zoological Gardens to be trained to take part in peraheras. 

The pool will include tuskers, male and female elephants. The animals will be obtained from the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and the Udawalawa Elephant Transit Home. 

The proposal to establish the pool was presented by Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera. The Government has cited that such as pool was necessary as when several cultural activities are held at the same time as the Dalada Perahera, it has been observed that there is an insufficient number of elephants to take part in the perahera. 

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