VIDEO

Lack of vocational training in elephant care caused Muthu Raja to be sent to Thailand

4 July 2023 11:23 am - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Due to a lack of vocational education in taking care of elephants Muthu Raja, also known as Sak Surin, was sent to Thailand, Venerable Pahiyangala Ananda Sagara Thera said.

Addressing the media, he said it was sad to hear about the sending of an elephant to its native country as the animal was badly abused while being kept at a Buddhist temple.

"We are a country enriched with Buddhist philosophy, but we have failed to treat and take care of such a tamed animal," he said.

While explaining the situation, the Thera thanked the Thai government and the people who participated in sending back the elephant.

"Due to a lack of vocational education in taking care of elephants, a number of tamed elephants suffer. Only a few of the elephants under very rich people, under nilames, and in some homes are treated correctly. But the majority of these animals are being abused," he said.

These tamed elephants are used for peraheras once a year, and the rest of the days they are in hotels and tourist areas. These elephants are used as a method of earning foreign exchange.

Ven. Sagara Thera claimed that these elephants were used as a business that even the earth cannot not bear.

Therefore, handing over elephants to temples through Sannasas should be stopped. He requested that the president intervene in this issue and prevent elephants being killed daily due to the human elephant conflicts.

He blamed the Wildlife Department, saying they do not care about the elephant resource in the country.

After returning Muthu Raja to Thailand, several activist groups and Thai citizens have appealed not to return the tusker to Sri Lanka. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)

Comments - 9

Goddy Tuesday, 04 July 2023 12:02 PM

Yes I Agree MUTHU RAJA should Not be sent back to S'Lanka, let Muthu live balance of her/ his life in the Country of Birth THAILAND Sad but this lovely Animal suffered much.

VJ Tuesday, 04 July 2023 12:18 PM

I thought we had 2500 years of expertise?

BuffaloaCitizen Tuesday, 04 July 2023 02:22 PM

Our 2500y history us reeked with killing our own citizens under racism, genocide, terrorism label and what not. We are a shameless Buddhist nation of low caste human beings who are basically opportunists to the core. There wasn't one Minister available at the Airport when this elephant was air lifted, but we saw many of them at the airport when a humbug who committed State Criminality with impunity and then bankrupt the nation arrived.

Ram Tuesday, 04 July 2023 01:12 PM

Sri Lankans are only active to make ill-gotten money. All other areas they have a no care attitude

Cherath Tuesday, 04 July 2023 01:30 PM

Sri Lanka's natural tendency towards kindness, care and compassion has waned over the last 2 or 3 decades with mounting pressure for survival for the majority. As the wealth shifted heavily towards q tiny minority animal welfare too went out of the window. For Muthu Raja or or any animal Sri Lanka is not the country to be in right now. Long may he live in motherland Thailand!

No, in is only last 20 or 30 years things have improved Tuesday, 04 July 2023 03:59 PM

No. There's never been such a thing. Until 30 years ago the upcountry Tamils have seen the worst for themselves and were even going to be deported en masse to India after D.S. Senanayake got rid of their right to vote even. The previous racism and caste based discrimination of the country was awful, along with nationalism that causing all sorts of wicked behaviours.

Mrcian Christopher Tuesday, 04 July 2023 01:39 PM

Very sad state of affairs in the country not only for the tamed and wild elephants also for the citizens as well. No medicines, food prices have skyrocketed and the people are going begging from house to house but the House of the politicos are having a fun time talking bull shit about unnecessary things without claiming compensation for the disaster that was welcomed by the illiterate politicos by allowing a burning ship to enter our sea and polluting our sea and the beaches. One of the many misdeeds, nobody is taking the responsibility for these treacherous acts and misdeeds.

johan Tuesday, 04 July 2023 02:25 PM

Wild Life minsters are not interested in their jobs because they cannot get commission or earn extra income from the ministry.

Wiraj Tuesday, 04 July 2023 03:31 PM

Inefficiency , incompetency and indifference at every level in this country. People should be ashamed, though the thick skinned politicians will never ever care, when there is no commission involved in any matter.

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VIDEO

Lack of vocational training in elephant care caused Muthu Raja to be sent to Thailand

Comments - 9

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