Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has paid tribute to the immensely popular tusker ‘Kawanthissa’, following its demise, by sharing a poignant message on his Facebook account.

Beginning his message with the words, “I believe that the wild king, the majestic tusker Kawanthissa, was embraced by the great forest into its heart one last time,” the former President recalled the significance of tuskers in Sri Lanka’s history, culture and Buddhism.

Pointing out that tuskers have been represented throughout the nation’s history, he noted that these noble creatures feature in the pages of the ‘Mahavamsa’. He also highlighted their prominent role in the Kandy Esala Perahera, royal coronations and battlefields.

He further recalled how the tusker ‘Kadol’, which represented royalty, was accorded a status equal to that of a king in history.

Emphasising the tusker’s significance in Buddhism as a Bodhisattva and noting how the elephant’s footprint inspired the Gajaga Vannama, Mahinda Rajapaksa stated that, in Sri Lankan culture, the tusker is a living symbol deeply intertwined with history, religion, art and public life. He described it as a revered being, an auspicious symbol and a national treasure to be protected.

The former President concluded his message by paying his final respects to Kawanthissa with the words: “Safe journey to the grand tusker of our tusker lineage, who adorned our motherland while possessing a human heart filled with dignity, strength, patience and compassion.”