COLOMBO, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday declared "Nadungamuwa Raja," the famous Indian elephant who died in March as a national heritage.
A government spokesman told the weekly media briefing that following a proposal submitted by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the government declared the pachyderm a national heritage considering the animal's contribution towards the Buddhist religion.
The elephant died on March 7 following a brief illness at the age of 68.
Wildlife officials said the tusker, towering 10.5 feet in height, was the tallest tamed elephant in the country.
The elephant also had its own armed guards and had for years participated in the Buddhist religious parade, known as the Esala Perahera, in the central city of Kandy.
Elephants, as sacred animals in Sri Lanka, often participate in religious ceremonies and rituals. ■