Sri Lanka, Oct. 17 -- 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 furthe...