Tight restrictions on use of elephants in cultural events in Jaffna

• Elephants had been brought from the South recently for religious ceremonies regardless of safety of the public

By Romesh Madusanka   

Jaffna District Secretary A. Sivapala Sundaram has informed that special permission should be obtained to bring elephants from other areas for religious ceremonies or any other occasion in the Jaffna district.   

He said the use of elephants in ceremonies without proper supervision of the relevant officials was hurtful to the elephants and a threat to the safety of the public.   

He said permission obtained from the Northern Province Livestock and Production Health Department should be referred for approval to the special committee in the District Secretariat.   

The District Secretary said that elephants had not been used in ceremonies in Kovils in Jaffna in the past, but elephants had been brought from the South recently for religious ceremonies regardless of safety of the public.