In response to recent court rulings and growing concerns over the declining number of tame elephants, the Government is working to establish a unified mechanism to regulate the use of elephants in peraheras, The Daily Morning learns.

A special expert committee, including environmentalist Dr. Jagath Gunawardena, has been appointed to provide recommendations for a viable framework. The move comes as the number of legally registered tame elephants in the country has dropped to approximately 54, raising concerns that future peraheras may face a shortage of elephants if the issue is not addressed.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody explained that no permits for the domestication of new elephants had been issued in recent days, leaving only those previously registered.

“When new registrations are done, we are planning to train the mahouts to handle the elephants,” he said.

While the number of elephants deployed for peraheras has become a pressing issue, the Deputy Minister assured that there was no plan to reduce the current number of elephants used in these cultural processions.

“We have not finalised the decision yet, but we should have a proper, solid mechanism to have elephants for the peraheras. For instance, we can establish a separate unit from the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage to receive elephants for the peraheras,” he said.

He added that a new gazette would be issued soon, providing a solid mechanism for deploying tame elephants for peraheras.

When asked whether the Government acknowledges allegations that elephants are subjected to torture through decorative dressing and drill training for peraheras, the Deputy Minister said that peraheras and elephants were culturally bound traditions.

He emphasised that the methods of using elephants should be more formalised and monitored, while reiterating that no reduction in the number of elephants used for peraheras would be considered.

The comments follow a query raised in Parliament by MP Chamindranee Kiriella, who highlighted the gradual reduction in the country’s tame elephant population, many of which are now reaching 65 to 70 years of age.

She noted that while the perahera tradition has continued for centuries, the Government must outline measures for elephant welfare and clarify its strategy to ensure the tradition is not undermined by the dwindling number of tame elephants.