Ceremonial Tusker Nadungamuwe Raja, has died

COLOMBO (News 1st); Nadungamuwa Raja, the majestic tusker that carried the sacred tooth relic during the annual Kandy Esala perahera, has died.

This was confirmed to News 1st by the Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

Nadungamuwa Raja was one of the most protected tuskers in Sri Lanka, having his own security details when traveling to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy.

Nadungamuwa Raja, was a celebrated elephant towering around 10.5 feet (3.2 meters) in height, the tallest tamed tusker in Sri Lanka.

There are two regular handlers with Raja in addition to the military unit deployed to clear a path for the animal when it navigates crowded country roads.

Raja is a national treasure because he is one of the few tuskers chosen to carry a casket of Lord Buddha's relics in an annual pageant at the most sacred Buddhist shrine on the island, the Temple of the Tooth.