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Elephant allegedly abused in Sri Lanka flown back to Thailand
A Thai elephant gifted to Sri Lanka two decades ago arrived back in its birth country on Sunday (03 July), following a diplomatic spat over the animal’s alleged mistreatment.
Thai authorities had gifted the 29-year-old Muthu Raja – also known as Sak Surin in its birthplace – to Sri Lanka in 2001. But they demanded the elephant back last year after allegations that it was tortured and neglected while kept at a Buddhist temple.
The 4,000kg (8,800-pound) mammal arrived in Thailand just after 2pm (08:00 GMT), having been transported inside a specially constructed giant steel crate onboard an Ilyushin Il-76 cargo plane.
“He arrived in Chiang Mai perfectly. He travelled five hours and nothing is wrong, his condition is normal,” Thai environment minister Varawut Silpa-archa said at the airport. “If everything goes well, we will move him,” he added, referring to plans to quarantine the elephant at a nearby nature reserve.
Varawut helped give the elephant a drink after Muthu Raja’s decorated crate was removed from the plane, with the thirsty animal eagerly reaching his trunk through a hole to accept the water. The elephant could be seen when officials briefly opened the crate’s rear doors and it was sprayed.
Muthu Raja was moved from its temporary home at a zoo in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo before dawn, accompanied by four Thai handlers and a Sri Lankan keeper, with two CCTV cameras monitoring its health in transit. It left Colombo at 7:40am (0210 GMT) on a commercial reparation flight that Thai officials said cost $700,000.
Muthu Raja was in pain and covered in abscesses when it was rescued from the Buddhist temple last year, the zoo’s chief veterinarian, Madusha Perera, told the AFP news agency.
Animal welfare groups said the elephant had been forced to work with a logging crew and that its wounds, some allegedly inflicted by its handler, had been neglected. The elephant will undergo hydrotherapy in Thailand to treat a remaining injury on its front left leg, Perera said.
Elephants are considered sacred in Sri Lanka and are protected by law.
The organisation Rally for Animal Rights and Environment (RARE), which led a campaign to rescue Muthu Raja from the temple, expressed its unhappiness over the animal’s departure. RARE organised a Buddhist blessing for the elephant on Friday ahead of its journey and has petitioned authorities to prosecute those it says are responsible for neglecting the animal.
Sri Lanka’s wildlife minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said Thailand was “adamant” in its demands for the elephant’s return.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told parliament in June he had personally conveyed Sri Lanka’s regrets to the Thai king over the elephant’s condition.
Thailand has stopped sending elephants abroad, Thai environment minister Varawut said, adding that Bangkok’s diplomatic missions are checking the conditions of elephants already sent overseas.
(Aljazeera)
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi departed today (06) from Air Force Base Anuradhapura concluding his State visit to Sri Lanka. The Indian Premier embarked on a tour to Sri Lanka at the invitation from President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
This visit underscores the enduring relationship encapsulated by the theme “Friendship of Centuries, Commitment to a Prosperous Future,” further solidifying the bonds between India and Sri Lanka.
This marks Prime Minister Modi’s fourth visit to Sri Lanka, which has further enhanced the economic, cultural, and historical relations between the two nations, while also reinforcing their multifaceted partnership. This visit by the Indian Prime Minister reinforces Sri Lanka’s important role in India’s “Neighbourhood First Policy” and ‘MAHASAGAR’ vision concerning diplomatic relations.
This state visit is anticipated to yield significant results on various collaborative initiatives, fostering a path towards mutual growth and development. The citizens of Sri Lanka will soon be able to witness the fruitful outcomes of these partnerships, and Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s visit will mark a significant milestone in the government’s pursuit of sustainable development focused on the needs of the people.
Accompanying Indian Prime Minister Modi were Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and a delegation of senior officials from the Indian government.
[PMD]
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President Dissanayake and Indian PM Modi jointly commission upgraded Maho-Omanthai railway line & Maho-Anuradhapura railway signalling system
The upgraded Maho–Omanthai railway line and the newly installed Maho–Anuradhapura railway signalling system were officially commissioned by Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President Anura Kumara Disanayake today (06)
The Prime Minister of India is currently visiting Sri Lanka at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake, reinforcing the longstanding bond encapsulated in the theme “Friendship of Centuries Commitment to a Prosperous Future” between the two nations.
Highlighting one of the key aspects of this visit, the two leaders participated in these inaugural ceremonies. The President and the Prime Minister of India jointly unveiled the commemorative plaque and commissioned the railway line and signalling system.
The upgraded Maho-Omanthai Railway Line project was carried out with funding through the Indian Credit Line, totalling an investment of US$ 91.27 million. The Maho–Anuradhapura railway signalling system, established as a result of President Disanayake’s recent visit to India, was funded by the Indian Government at a cost of USD 14.89 million.
[PMD]
Latest News
Prime Minister Modi and President Dissanayake pay homage to the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, currently on a State visit to Sri Lanka, along with President Anura Kumara Disanayake paid homage to the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura this morning (06) and received blessings.
Following his visit to the sacred site, Prime Minister Modi proceeded to the Udamaluwa, where he met with the Chief Incumbent of the Atamasthanadhipathi and Chief Sanghanayake of Nuwarakalaviya, Most Venerable Dr. Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera, for a cordial discussion.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister shared that relics of the Buddha were discovered in excavations conducted in his home state of Gujarat during the 1960s. He further stated that he would discuss with the President of Sri Lanka the possibility of exhibiting these sacred relics in Sri Lanka.
Responding to a request made by the Atamasthanadhipathi to develop Bodh Gaya as a spiritual city, Prime Minister Modi assured that he would take the necessary steps after discussions with President Disanayake and work towards making it a reality.
The Maha Sangha, led by the Atamasthanadhipathi, chanted Seth Pirith and invoked blessings on the Indian Prime Minister.
The Indian Prime Minister also left a commemorative note in the special guest book at the site. In addition, he formally declared open the newly constructed ‘Makara Thorana’ within the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi premises.
The occasion was also attended by Chief Incumbent of the Ruwanweli Maha Seya Temple Ven. Ethalawetunawewe Gnanathilaka Thera and other Atamasthana Viharadhipathi Theras, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, North Central Province Governor Wasantha Jinadasa, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and others.
[PMD]
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