Maneka urges Lankan Prez to free elephant chained for 67 yrs
Union Minister Maneka Gandhi has written to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena requesting him to free Bandula, a 1949-born elephant who has been chained in Dehiwala Zoo for 67 years. The animal rights activist said the gesture of "compassion" could increase the "goodwill" for Sri Lanka. According to Elephant Conservation in Sri Lanka, the country has 200-250 elephants in captivity.