Committee to be Appointed to Look into the Two Tuskers Gifted to Sri Lanka by Thailand

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody says that a committee will be appointed to look into the two tuskers gifted by Thailand, that have recently become the subject of discussion.

He said the committee will include veterinary officers as well.

Thai media recently reported that discussions will be held on the 28th of October between the Thai government and Sri Lankan authorities regarding the return of the two tuskers — Plai Srinharong and Plai Pratu Pha — to Thailand.

According to those reports, the decision to recall the tuskers was made on the grounds that they were being subjected to ill-treatment in Sri Lanka.

Plai Pratu Pha, a tusker aged 12 at the time, was gifted to Sri Lanka in 1979. 

The tusker is now known as Vijaya Raja, or Thai Raja, and is currently 51 years old, residing at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy.

The other elephant, Plai Srinharong, who was nine years old at the time, was gifted to Sri Lanka in 2001 and is now known as Kandula, aged 29, belonging to the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya.

Kandula had been gifted to Sri Lanka along with the tusker Sak Surin, also known as Muthu Raja, who was taken back to Thailand in 2023, from the Aluthgama Viharaya.

Meanwhile, Minister of Environment Dr. Dhammika Patabendi stated that the Sri Lankan government has not yet received any official notification requesting the return of the two elephants.