President donates Myanmar tusker to Dalada Maligawa

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday offered a tusker named Pulatisi Raja to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. 

The President also paid homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic, seeking blessings.

The scroll officially transferring the ownership of the elephant to the Temple was handed over to Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela by President Sirisena in a special ceremony held at the historic Magul Maduwa.

Pulasti Raja was donated to Sri Lanka by Myanmar, honouring a request made by Sirisena to State Counsellor of Myanmar and Minister of Foreign Affairs Aung San Suu Kyi while attending the BRICS-BIMSTEC outreach summit held in Goa, India.

Originally named “Pan Shwe Maung” in Myanmar, the tusker is 24 years old and is 8 feet tall.

The elephant arrived from Myanmar on 18 August, after which he was kept in a special enclosure within the premises of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

Following the donation, the President offered fruits to the animal. Sirisena also presented awards to the two Mayanmarian mahouts.

Members of the Maha Sangha including Mahanayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thero, Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Governor of the Central Province Niluka Ekanayake, Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake, the Secretary to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Nilame of the Satara Maha Devalaya including the Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela also took part in the ceremony.