How the state-confiscated stock of ivory ....
was destroyed at Galle Face![How the state-confiscated stock of ivory]()
A large stock of ivory which was intended to be transported on the sly and was taken into custody by the Sri Lankan Customs was destroyed today in public at Galle Face. The President and the Prime Minister too were present on that occasion. The Sri
Lankan Customs were successful in getting hold of this stock of ivory across a raid conducted on May 12th in the year 2012 during an instance when it was to be transported to Dubai via Sri Lanka from Kenya. This stock of ivory which was of a value of Rs. 42 billion belonged to 183 African elephants and the number of tusks were 359, with a weight of 1528 kilos.The President's Office had issued an order during the Mahinda regime in the year 2014 having heard that this stock of ivory was to be destroyed and to donate those to viharas,but because of a protest launched against it, the proceedings had to be stopped. According to existing laws, the government is bound to destroy this stock of ivory and it is understood that this may have been done also as a measure to discourage the ivory business.