This historic event took place in 2006. According to tradition, when a new elephant is taken through the main Wahalkada for the first time, they are usually accompanied by another experienced elephant to help ease their curiosity and anxiety.
The need for an elephant census in Sri Lanka has been a significant concern for a long time. After 13 years, preparations are now underway to restart this important initiative. The last comprehensive data collection on the elephant population in Sri Lanka was conducted in 2011, and it recorded a population of 5800 elephants. Since then, no further census has been carried out.
Accordingly, the upcoming census is scheduled to take place on the full moon day of Nikini, August 19th. The Department of Wildlife Conservation will conduct the census from August 17th to 19th, covering the entire country except for Colombo. This effort aims to create a complete database on the elephant population across Sri Lanka.
Therefore, this elephant census, being conducted after 13 years, marks a significant event in Sri Lanka.
The Esala Perahera in Kandy is historically significant because of the elephant Raja. This young elephant, captured by a professional elephant catcher named Umeru Lebbe from Batticaloa in 1925, was purchased by Tikiri Bandara Disawe of Giragama Mampitiya Walawwa and named Raja.
Due to the old age of Disawe of Mampitiya, Raja and another elephant named Kanda were donated to the Temple of the Tooth through a deed of donation. This occurred in 1937. It is said that Raja was about 22 years old at that time. Since then, Raja has had the opportunity to participate in the Esala Perahera, and after the demise of the Idampitiya elephant, Raja was given the honor of carrying the sacred tooth relic.
Raja, an elephant from a high noble lineage of ceremonial elephants, had a slightly higher left tusk compared to the right, a sign considered auspicious. There are many fascinating stories related to Raja, who is intertwined with the history of the Esala Perahera.
In 1955, during the Randoli Perahera of the Esala Perahera, while carrying the sacred relic casket and proceeding majestically, Raja suddenly stopped near the Queens Hotel. Despite the efforts of the mahouts to move him forward, showcasing their skills, Raja did not budge.
The then Diyawadana Nilame, C.B. Nugawela, who arrived from behind, instructed the mahouts to check the Ransivi Geya (golden canopy) on the elephant. It was discovered that a strap of the Ransivi Geya had broken. Raja had stopped to prevent the Ransivi Geya and the relic casket from falling to the ground.
The 1959 Upcountry Esala Perahera was an event that garnered much news, mainly due to the commotion caused by the elephants. Spectators and visitors, fearing for their lives, ran in all directions. Many elephants panicked, causing a great uproar in the streets.
While carrying the sacred casket, Raja stood majestically and calmly. The mahouts tied Raja to a tree on the street, and Raja performed his duty by safeguarding the sacred casket.
Once, a rebellious Raja bathed at the Katugastota bathing place, ignoring the commands of the mahouts and staying in the water from morning until night. By evening, Raja entered the path leading back to his elephant enclosure. A police vehicle had to go ahead of Raja to inform the local people through a loudspeaker to clear the path.
During this time, a disabled person, unable to move off the road, lay down in front of the approaching elephant, pleading not to be harmed. Although Raja approached with his majestic presence, he gently lifted the innocent person and placed him safely on a nearby mound before continuing on his way.
Having carried the sacred casket for a long time, Raja fell ill by 1986. The government provided full support for the treatment of the king elephant, and on August 26, 1986, President J.R. Jayewardene declared Raja a national treasure.
Raja was the first elephant in Asia and the second in the world to receive such an honor. The first elephant in the world to be so honored was ‘Ahmed’ from Kenya.
On January 1, 1987, Raja was injured when a car driven by a drunken military officer hit him on the road. The mahout died at the scene, and this incident gradually rendered Raja’s leg immobile. Raja’s health deteriorated from then on, and on July 16, 1988, Raja took his last breath.
In tribute to the deceased elephant, the government fully supported the reconstruction of Raja by specialists. As a museum exhibit, Raja’s lifelike replica was placed in a special building at the Temple of the Tooth and opened for public display from 1989 under the leadership of President R. Premadasa.
The beautiful memory of the thoughtless innocent
Dear Chandi, it must be said first of all that there is no elephant king who is as close to our heart as you. Dear son, Protect Elephants World Global Association has been close to you for one and a half years since we started.
Do you remember how you used to drink a little alcohol at night and spend the whole day in the lake with a razor on your face? We used to say in those days, "Oh dear, the reputation of the entire generation of elephants is ruining this boy 😅".
My innocent boy, your behavior was causing trouble to the drug dealers in Galgamuwa. Because you are constantly dropping their barrels at night, drinking them and destroying their businesses. So you had great trouble from them. We came forward for the elephant king, while they fired harassing shots several times. That is, it was discussed with the Galgamuwa Police Station.
Requests were made to protect you from these blackmailers and to please stop this kind of trafficking. What did we not do for you, elephant king.
Later you gave up those bad habits like a good boy. You didn't go for a drink. My boy was an innocent child. After that, there was no shortage of names in your columns. 🤭 I remember very well the wonder of walking around the whole village just like the village officer. The villagers also loved you insatiably.If it wasn't like that, you wouldn't be caught in the natural law and die today.
Galgamuwa and you had an unbreakable bond. Although you were taken to Horovpatana twice for harassing people's life, you returned to Galgamuwa both times. Finally, last year too, they were ready to take you to Maduru Oya, and the whole of Sri Lanka, including us, opposed it. The whole country supported you that day and not a single hair follicle was allowed to move. Then you lived freely in your beloved Galgamuwa. Cataracts appeared in your eyes due to past habits rather than age, and even if we tried to cure it, it could not be done.
There is no other elephant king that we have looked for as much as you. We were constantly asked about you by the villagers, officials and photographers. But finally you left us. Two days ago, you were attacked by a tusker named Ratta, and you somehow survived and got treatment. This was done for the kingship of young Ratta. There were blows all over the body, and one blow mainly to the heart brought death to you. The people of Galgamu told us that the whole night the elephants were the shouted of the two kings. The battle lasted the whole night. Why didn't them inform to the wildlife? If that was the case, officer would have shot or chased the two away. Badly injured, Chandi finally died in the same lake where he used to drink alcohol and fell down. In the end, the elephant king did not leave his homeland and died in his homeland.
We won't forget the wonderful walk of you throughout village, a long as your jokes lives. King of the Heart Elephant, you finally succumbed to the law of nature and left us all away. Today, Galgamuwa without you is like a raw grave. Today, Galgamuwa is very lonely without your voice. You left the whole country in making everyone cry. May the elephant king rest in peace.
