During the second Kumbal Perahara street procession of Dalada Maligawa today (22), a tense situation arose due to an altercation involving three Perahara elephants.
The incident unfolded as follows:
During the procession, the Kataragama Devala Perehara was making its way towards Queen’s Hotel from Dalada Maligawa. An elephant from the Kataragama temple procession clashed with an elephant from the procession of the Vishnu temple.
This Vishnu temple procession included two elephants owned by a prominent family with political influence in the south. These elephants had been presented under the name of another individual for this Perahara.
The elephant from the Kataragama temple, attacked one of the elephants it walked behind the Vishnu temple procession. One of these elephants fled towards the corridor of Queen’s Hotel, while the other ran up the bank of the Kandy lake.
This sudden chaos led to panic among the people, with some jumping into the lake out of fear.
Lifeguards at the scene managed to rescue those in the water, and a woman who had a minor health issue during the commotion was taken to Kandy hospital for treatment.
A team of experts, including Dr. Professor Ashoka Dangolla, worked to calm down the agitated elephant. Five elephants in total were involved in the incident.
As of now, the situation has been brought under control.
The procession continued its route, moving from Dalada Maliga along DS Senanayake Street, Colombo Street, Kotugodella Street, Rajaveedaya, and then back to Dalada Maliga.
