International Conference on Asian Elephants in Culture & Nature

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    Traditional Ivory Crafts and Technology in Sri Lanka: A Historical and Technological Perspective
    (Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Rambukwella, C.
    Firm evidence of ivory crafts and technology in Sri Lanka goes back to the pre-Christian era. Early Brahmi inscriptions and archaeological data provide information of ivory objects, craftsmen and craftsmanship in the country. The Vegiri Devale early Brahmi inscription of 3rd century BC situated near Kandy city in Sri Lanka mentioned the word Datika among other specific words such as Kubaraka (potter) and Manikara (lapidary -Gem cutter). According to Senerath Paranavitana, the word Datika is linked with ivory craft and the word itself means the ivory-worker. Historical sources, later documents and ethno- archaeological studies also provide many narratives of multi- purpose usage of ivory in Sri Lanka from ancient times to the recent past. In Sri Lanka the word ivory is used for elephants’ tusks only and not for the other tooth. Scarcity of the material led to high demand resulting in acquiring ivory as a prestigious symbol. Hence, the ivory tradition flourished in Sri Lanka and continued from 18th century feudalistic Kandiyan Kingdom to the British period and beyond. However, the traditional craftsmanship that was practiced genealogically and maintained a high standard ceased when the use of ivory was prohibited in Sri Lanka by imposed laws. Ancient ivory crafts specimens and records show that ivory crafts and technology used traditional methods and technologies in Sri Lanka until the recent past. This paper attempts to illustrate the traditional methods and the technologies used in the magnificent old tradition of ivory craft in Sri Lanka.
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    An Exploration of the Motherland of Asian Elephants with Special Reference to Historical Records from 5th Century BC to 15th Century AD
    (Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Bogahawatta, C.
    Elephants, in the Sri Lankan society, are treated with a certain degree of respect and devotion. With the introduction of Buddhism to the country in the 3rd Century BC, elephants gained a prominent place in the Sri Lankan culture. Literary sources of ancient Sri Lanka, make reports of instances in which elephants have played a significant role in religious functions as well as political functions such as enthroning the king. This is evidence of the significant role attributed to the elephants in the cultural and religious contexts of the Sinhalese society. Since Sri Lanka was located in the centre of the Indian Ocean with active natural harbours, she was popular among foreign nations as favourable trade centre. This is evident from the entries in the journals of ancient Greek, Roman, Arabic and Chinese travellers since the 5th Century BC. Voyagers, historians, merchants, as well as geologists such as Onesicritus (4th Century BC), Megasthenes (4th Century BC), Solinus Polyhistor (1st Century AD), Dionysius Periegetes (1st Century AD), Aelian (170-235 AD), Cosmas (550 AD), Athanasius Nikitin (15th Century AD) and Ludovico de Varthema (16th century AD) have made such informative records of the Asian elephant. They have also devised some criteria to distinguish Asian elephants from other species. These criteria include their intelligence, efficiency and military calibre. Once all their records are thoroughly examined it can be righteously concluded that Sri Lanka was the motherland of the Asian elephants prior to the Europeans’ conquest of Asia. Reports about elephants appearing in the works of the afore mentioned foreign writers ranging from the 5th Century BC to the 16th Century AD have been cited as primary sources for this research.
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    Information Availability and Evaluation of Websites Related to Asian Elephants in Sri Lanka
    (Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) de Silva, A.P.U.
    Sri Lanka is a very small country in the Asian region. However, Sri Lanka is popular for elephants among the world. In the Sri Lankan context, Sri Lankan people have a longstanding relationship as well as a deep connection with elephants. The wild elephant population is approximately 4500-5000 in Sri Lanka. Most people are interested in searching for information on elephants. There are various means of gathering information related to elephants in Sri Lanka. Among them, websites play an important role in delivering information to the public. The main objective of this research is to identify the existing information on the websites related to Asian elephants in Sri Lanka and the other objectives are to categorize the information on the website and to evaluate the websites related to Asian elephants in Sri Lanka. In this study, both qualitative and quantitative methodologies were applied. This study is primarily a survey research. To collect primary data for the study, desk research and website evaluation tools were used. Desk research was conducted to collect existing information on the websites. Sampled websites were evaluated using WAVE, Google Page Speed and Hubspot Marketing Grader. The population of the study was all websites related to Asian elephants. Two websites were used to identify the existing information on the website and to evaluate websites. Websites of the Biodiversity and Elephant conservation Trust and Elephant Safari Sri Lanka were used as samples for the study. Analyzed data revealed that information approximating background, historical facts, contacts, activities, publications, safari details, accommodation are available on websites related to Asian elephants. According to the results of evaluation tools, websites of the Biodiversity and Elephant conservation Trust and Elephant Safari Sri Lanka get acceptable marks. However, more upgrades are required to improve the quality of websites. In order to address these discrepancies, some major moves are suggested to upgrade the rank of websites related to Asian elephants which include following WCAG and proprietary accessibility guidelines, establishing formal web accessibility lows and guidelines, upgrading online services and providing training to web masters. Additionally information about Asian elephants should be contained within a website and websites should be more accurate and up to date.
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    The Terracotta Hoards as Remnants of Rituals Practiced at Elephant Kraals in Sri Lanka
    (Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Manatunga, Anura
    The terracotta hoards found in Sri Lanka have been vividly interpreted. The close relationship of these hoards with elephants has been pointed out by the present writer in series of research presentations based on his chance discoveries in 1983 at Manawewa near Inamaluwa in the Sigiriya – Dambulla region. Three hypotheses have been postulated by the present writer after his excavations at Manawewa in 1992. 1. A forgotten cult of worshiping elephants 2. Rituals practiced for protecting crops and lives from wild elephants 3. Rituals practiced before catching wild elephants Despite these three hypotheses are still to be verified, the writer is inclined towards the third hypothesis as the most appropriated and most probabilistic pursuit for understanding ambiguous terracotta hoards in Sri Lanka. The present paper is an extension of this hypothesis in the same line that these terracotta hoards as remnants of rituals practiced at elephant kraals in Sri Lanka which were used for catching wild elephants in a mass scale from time to time. The following facts will be examined in this regard in detail with little known aspects of rituals practiced at elephant kraals. 1. Terracotta hoards dominated by figures of elephants 2. Odd looking female figures 3. Figures of elephant riders 4. Sites closer to irrigated tanks 5. Representing a mono cultural phase 6. Terracotta hoards found in elephant tracks 7. Some hoards found in Aiyyanayaka Temples We know from some Colonial administration reports that rituals practiced before having elephant kraals were performed at Aiyyanayaka temples. Some other sources reveal that odd looking figures symbolizing prostitutes were kept in Kraals to attract wild elephants. The kraals were practiced near irrigation tanks and elephant tracts. The mono cultural nature shows that they were not continued as ritual sites. The writer will elaborate on these facts with his findings of Manawewa excavations. Some other discoveries before and after the Manawewa excavation will be used in support of this hypothesis with ethnographic and literary surveys in relation to catching wild elephants.
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    The Ethics of Elephant Tourism with a View to Increasing the Welfare of the Elephants and People of Sri Lanka
    (Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Barborich, A.L.
    Elephant tourism in general presents many ethical challenges related to animal rights and / or the duty of humans to animals. These ethical dilemmas are further complicated by the endangered status of many elephant species and the economically alluring trade in elephant tourism. Sri Lanka is uniquely placed to benefit from its elephants and elephant tourism may benefit from the long association between elephants and man in Sri Lankan culture. This cultural affinity, even reverence for elephants, can be helpful in designing measures to create ethical elephant tourism in Sri Lanka. However, the realities of Sri Lanka being a developing country, increased Human Elephant Conflict (HEC), Sri Lanka’s underfunded wildlife conservation resources and unregulated land development mean that the ethical considerations of elephant tourism are often neglected. This paper attempts to determine what an ideal elephant management programme would consist of in Sri Lanka and where the current situation falls short of this ideal. This evaluation must necessarily consider the welfare of both wild and domesticated elephants and the impact of any newly proposed measures on the people and institutions who are involved in managing both types of elephants. Elephant tourism operates at the nexus of ethics, economics and Sri Lankan culture. For this reason any approach to elephant management and conservation must be holistic in order to determine the best and most pragmatic approach to the creation of ethical elephant tourism in Sri Lanka.