Gotabhaya hands over two baby elephants: Dy Minister

31 January 2015 03:32 pm - 40 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Former Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has handed over two baby elephants that were kept in his care to the zoo, Deputy Minister of Wildlife Wasantha Senanayake said.

During a press briefing held today, Minister Senanayake stated one of the elephant calves, which is four years old – had been held in his care upon obtaining legal authorization through a valid registration.

“He has handed over two elephant calves to the zoo with his own consent. The baby elephants are in good health. The two calves had been taken into his care in 2009 and 2010. The second calf without a valid registration had been handed over to him by the Pinnawala elephant orphanage through a contract in agreement to care for it,” he said.

The Minister also added that Gotabhaya had obtained an application to register the second calf and therefore, the allegations that are being leveled against him on holding baby elephants illegally, are not acceptable.

However, Minister Senanayake further stated that although no illegalities have occurred, measures will be taken to track down the original owners of the two calves.

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Comments - 40

ihi Sunday, 01 February 2015 11:04 AM

It is likely that we will have a separate ministry for "elephant affairs" .

Prasannajit Sunday, 01 February 2015 07:30 AM

How come it is not illegal?. What is this elephant mania of keeping them as pets?

gobbaya Sunday, 01 February 2015 08:05 AM

original owners ...original owners are mother nature....rehabilitate these beasts & release them to the wild.SL should seriously think of a domestic breeding programme using elephants already in captivity...if they want to ensure supply of pachyderms for pageants instead of stealing wild elephants ..... via DM Android App

E Sunday, 01 February 2015 08:43 AM

This Young Political leader is an exemplary Character..We need people of this caliber..

dulan Sunday, 01 February 2015 08:44 AM

We do not need gentlemen who defend people of their class

Patriot Sunday, 01 February 2015 09:12 AM

How sad if a person is removed from the post because he spoke truth!!!

sam silva Sunday, 01 February 2015 09:31 AM

Appalling- Sajin vass had a baby elephant, GOTA 2, and just yesterday Namal 2., Ven Uduwe Dammaloka 1- How can the MR regime just distribute elephants to frends.All should be charged

ANTON Sunday, 01 February 2015 09:35 AM

FRANKLY......AS A STRONG ANIMAL LOVER......MY QUESTION IS THIS,CAN THE PEOPLE IN THE ZOO TREAT THESE ANIMALS KINDLY OR PROTECT THEM SAFELY.

what Sunday, 01 February 2015 09:55 AM

Out of power Gota has no power to feed elephants so dump.

Anticleon Sunday, 01 February 2015 09:56 AM

Some lesson to Rajapaksas, in case they come to power some day. Go by the truth, not revenge.

Nodrog Sunday, 01 February 2015 07:24 AM

Now that he has to feed them with his own money its not so easy.

Naman Sunday, 01 February 2015 11:32 AM

It will be interesting to read if G.R. writes his autobiography up to now.He did achieve some good deeds and many bad deeds too. Is there not going to be investigations in to his association with ex-Tigers such as Karuna, Pillaian and KP?

Mevan Sunday, 01 February 2015 01:25 PM

Every baby has a mother. A permit for the baby alone is not enough. The owner must explain what happened to the mother. Was she killed to get her baby? If so, the owner must be punished with a jail term.

leel Gunathilake Sunday, 01 February 2015 02:11 PM

He already adopted KP no room for children

ranjith Sunday, 01 February 2015 02:12 PM

api ohelata chandayadunne weradikaruwanta sudu hunt ganna neme

srilankan Sunday, 01 February 2015 02:56 PM

Their actions should not be judged as legal based on them having got permits. Can you imagine that anybody could have refused them a permit. It should be judged on the basis of whether any sri lankan citizen without connections could have got the permit. In this case to keep two elephants in a property in colombo.

roy Sunday, 01 February 2015 03:24 PM

Let the animal be where they belong, these politicians think great if they own an elephant. Instead give food to 100 poor people who are starving. At least GOD will bless them...

Wellwisher Sunday, 01 February 2015 03:27 PM

But were the elephants were taken care of his expense? He is just a secretary in a ministry. Investigations should see whose expenses were spent on the elephants. Normally it will cost so many lakhs to take care elephants.

Waco Sunday, 01 February 2015 03:56 PM

President said the law is equal to every one. How come Wasantha Senanayake covers up for Gota?

pubudu Tuesday, 03 February 2015 12:08 PM

No ! Punishment AND publishing !

sataro Saturday, 31 January 2015 10:47 PM

howmany elephants he exported via DM Android App

Euclid Saturday, 31 January 2015 09:17 PM

The babies were kept at the compound of his former official residence at Bauthaloka Mawatha. It was not a place to have elephants and the may had undergone a lot of stress. Mr. Minister do not try coverup things for someones benefit.

Anura Gunasekara Saturday, 31 January 2015 09:17 PM

Real UNP ,congratulate Genuine blood of Senanayeka heritage., continue be a gentleman in Yahapalana Nade

sri Saturday, 31 January 2015 09:21 PM

Why does he needs elephants ? He could have adopted some poor children !

sam Saturday, 31 January 2015 09:46 PM

Well done sir.Keep up the good work.

words Saturday, 31 January 2015 10:26 PM

Wasantha Senanayake will soon be asked to give a written explanation like our new Defence Secretary was a week ago !

siribiris Saturday, 31 January 2015 10:35 PM

Sometimes the original owners would be the Mother Elephants.

Don Don Saturday, 31 January 2015 10:36 PM

When the family looses the power, they are unable to misuse the public money to feed the elephants. True color of so called patriots.

Bala Saturday, 31 January 2015 10:38 PM

Oh the things THEYdid !! OK give them no punishment but please please give full statement to press and parliament on how each of these rascals acquired these noble animals for people to know the truth.

miim Saturday, 31 January 2015 10:40 PM

if he says he cant take care of them now does that mean he spent public money to take care for them and now he is reluctant to pay out of his pocket.

Nish Saturday, 31 January 2015 09:04 PM

Wasantha senanayaka is a real gentlemen it seems. Hats off.

Acro Sunday, 01 February 2015 12:14 AM

Tomorrow: Wasantha senanayaka removed from his post due to whitewashing crimes of Gotabaya which are 100% true

lanka putha Sunday, 01 February 2015 02:15 AM

Who is the ally hora here???

Nims Sunday, 01 February 2015 02:56 AM

You can takeover the job of that man who said that MR will be definitely the President for a Third term

gobbaya Sunday, 01 February 2015 03:33 AM

what is this obsession with domesticating elephants & the former regime looks like we were living in a feudal society....thanks to the alternate media which kept highlighting these....by showing the sannasa where the king gave elephants to the kings brother via DM Android App

PM Sunday, 01 February 2015 03:37 AM

OMG....Circus goes on, now there are elephants for the acts!

ram Sunday, 01 February 2015 03:50 AM

Mr.minister. will u allow public also if found an illegal one while an application is submitted only.

Jayawewa Sunday, 01 February 2015 04:49 AM

How violent and out of control of this guy Gota, if unfortunately MR won.....People Sud do imagination based on the real facts we experienced in the past.

iemerald Sunday, 01 February 2015 05:01 AM

gota is no saint. however according to reports he has not done anything illegal in this instance and he should not be pilloried for that.acro do read reports properly first

GC Sunday, 01 February 2015 06:34 AM

Mr Senanayake, this shows you are not of the calibre of your illustrious ancestors. You are treating your friend, with whom you governed all this time, favourably. One law for the man with two baby elephants and one law and wide publicity against the monk who had only one calf. According to you, both did not have legal permits for one calf. Is the order of the day to get the calf and apply for permit? Disgraceful. I have lost respect for you. You can be lenient with GR. That is OK but then you have to be with the monk too. We need justice to be done and law to be equally applied. Is this the Yahapalanaya. Ranil and Maithree, up to you now.

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Gotabhaya hands over two baby elephants: Dy Minister

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