The Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Pradeep Nilanga, has called for a national consensus on clear guidelines governing the use of tame elephants in religious processions and other cultural activities.
He made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at the inaugural session of the Sri Lanka Elephant Conservation Conference 2026, held at the University of Peradeniya.
Pradeep Nilanga, who also serves as President of the Tame Elephant Association, noted that Sri Lanka currently has only 93 tame elephants available to serve the nearly 400 peraheras held annually across the country.
He said that while there are differing views regarding the use of elephants, the animal has held deep cultural and religious significance since the time of the Buddha and continues to occupy an important place in Sri Lankan society.
The conference was organised under the leadership of Professor Ashoka Dangolla with the support of several organisations involved in elephant conservation and welfare.
