{
  "id": 2477069,
  "title": "Gazette on captive elephants for peraheras",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/gazette-on-captive-elephants-for-peraheras",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-22T00:04:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/gazette-on-captive-elephants-for-peraheras/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Government of Sri Lanka is preparing to issue a Gazette notification that will outline the provisions for providing captive elephants for the Kandy Esala Perahera and other religious and cultural events, according to Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody. The Minister stated that the government has not imposed any restrictions on elephants being used for cultural activities and continues to provide the necessary facilities for such events. The draft notification, which is in its final stages of preparation, will be finalized in consultation with the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and an expert panel. The notification will specifically address the provision of captive elephants for Peraheras and other cultural activities, emphasizing that no decision has been made to restrict elephant usage for the Dalada Perahera or other religious events.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}