The Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs stated that elephants and tuskers kept in temples and shrines appear to be receiving proper care.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Gamagedara Dissanayake said that the Department of Wildlife Conservation oversees matters related to tuskers and elephants, and that from what has been observed, those in the custody of religious places are being looked after. 

“We don’t have direct supervision over them, but, as far as we can see, the elephants and tuskers in temples and shrines are being well cared for,” he said.

These remarks come amid reports from time to time over the mistreatment of captive elephants in Sri Lanka, particularly following the case of Muthuraja, the elephant gifted to Sri Lanka by Thailand in the 1990s. Muthuraja, who was housed at the Aluthgama Kande Viharaya, was taken back to Thailand in 2023 after allegations that it had not been provided with proper nutrition and care.

Speaking to The Daily Morning on an earlier occasion, Dissanayake said that a problematic situation has arisen due to the shortage of tame elephants and tuskers required for cultural processions (peraheras). As a solution, he noted that discussions would be held with a wide range of stakeholders including zoologists, members of the clergy, and the relevant institutions to prepare a programme to release elephants and tuskers for procession-related purposes in a more accountable manner, instead of allocating them based on political affiliations as had been done in the past.