President Gifts SLLI's New Mascot, 'Kandula VIII' to Commander

HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Wednesday (29) morning took his time off to gift a new baby elephant to the Army’s Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) Regiment as its mascot, Kandula VIII and another one to the Police during a brief ceremony at the Temple Trees.

Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, Commander of the Army, himself from the SLLI Regiment, on behalf of all ranks in the SLLI accepted documents, related to the 3 ½ old pachyderm from the President as a symbol of acceptance. The elephant, Kandula VII, now serving in the SLLI Headquarters is to be given to the National Zoological Gardens since it has reached maturity.

The fact that Sri Lanka Army has always been sensitive not only to the pulses of the populace it serves but also is equally concerned about their animals growing together with the Army. Since the inception of the practice of keeping an elephant with the SLLI Regimental Centre as its mascot, the SLLI has so far enjoyed the company of 7 Kandula elephants.  The new Kandula VIII has been selected by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Minister of Wildlife Conservation Mr Vijithamuni De Soyza, Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence and Urban Development, officials and a few Army and Police officers were present at the occasion.    

President Rajapaksa after treating the day’s spectacle, the baby elephant Kandula to a tray of fruits, handed it over symbolically to the Commander with documents, together with its mahout.
    
The SLLI introduced the elephant as its mascot in the year 1961 after naming it as ‘Kandula’ which traces its exceptionally distinguished ancient lineage of descent to the times of the King ‘Dutu Gemunu’, the country’s foremost warrior king who had used the tusker, Kandula in his fight against the King, Ellara and his troops.     

The new baby elephant, Kandula VIII as the much-loved mascot in the SLLI, obeying the commands of its SLLI caretakers will continue to serve the SLLI until maturity.

In the year 2011, the SLLI during a three-day grand Exhibition of Kandula’s Photos at the Colombo Arts Gallery, felicitated the elephant’s 50 years of service to the SLLI.

Inspector General of the Police, Mr N.K Illangakoon at the same time accepted the custodianship of the baby elephant, ‘Abhitha’ for the Police ceremonials.



(Photo courtesy : President’s Media Unit)