01st December 2022 23:18:30 Hours
Sri Lanka Light Infantry Regiment the pioneers of Sri Lanka Army having a remarkable history over 141 years owned its heritage regimental mascot since 1960. The Regimental mascot of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry Regiment (SLLI) has offered its enormous and distinguished service by attending number of ceremonial parades and events which organized by the regiment and Sri Lanka Army. Thereby, since its inception it created a representational iconic of proud and prestige as a nation.
Owing to the prevailing legal framework in order to get down the prestigious ninth “Kandula” regimental mascot plans were made the supreme supervision of Major General TJ Kodithuwakku RWP RSP ndu The Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Army and the Colonel of the Regiment of Sri Lanka Light Infantry.
During this difficult and extensive process as per the guidance of the previous Centre Commandant Brig TCK Peries RWP RSP and Colonel MPSP Kulasekara WWV RWP RSP the present Centre Commandant, Col LHCR Siriwardhane RSP Deputy Centre Commandant was inducted to find out appropriate elephant to employ as the regimental mascot.
As a result of serious expeditions to Dehiwala Zoo, Udawalawala Elephant Transit Home, Ridiyagama Safari Park and Elephant Orphanage Pinnawala a calf called “Nilgala” was found in Elephant Orphanage Pinnawala and attaining process was started to employ it as the regiment mascot. Meanwhile the proceedings for enroll two faithful handlers as elephant caretakers (mahout), to maintain and train it adapt to ceremonial use. It is no easy process to train an elephant to become a mascot of an army unit. The process begins with a lot of paper work between the Army and the National Zoological Gardens Department with special Cabinet approval having to be obtained for its release from Pinnawala. On 23 November 2022 agreements were signed by the Major General TJ Kodithuwakku RWP RSP ndu The Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Army and the Colonel of the Regiment of Sri Lanka Light Infantry. On the following day sunset, the ninth Kandula reached to the Regimental Centre and it was welcomed ritualistically by all ranks whom may mostly dearest to reserve it.
The apprentice will undergo further training at camp and learn the disciplines of the service. The ownership of the elephant however, remains with the National Zoological Gardens Department that administers Pinnawala orphanage. Veterinarians from the zoo inspect the elephant from time to time and have the right to recommend everything for the welfare of elephant. It will have a specific timetable like a normal soldier and will be trained under the special unit. Parading at a noisy ceremony, being exposed to the sun is not easy, but a well-trained elephant, like any other soldier, takes it in its stride. Elephants were part of Sri Lankan armies from ancient times and Kandula is the last link to remind us of that legacy.
