Srilanka, March 13 -- Sri Lanka currently has only around 96 tamed elephants and if no new elephants are added, the number could decline to around 10 by 2040, Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela said.

He stated that there were 160 captive elephants in 2015, but more than 60 elephants had died over the past decade.

Dela made these remarks during an event held yesterday (12) at the multi-purpose building of the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy to launch the song "Wanagabe Asiriya Aliya" (The Majesty of the Forest, Elephant), produced by Help Sri Lanka. The song was written by Sunil Sarath Perera, composed by Navaratna Gamage, sung by Rohan Shantha Bulegoda and visually directed by Ravindra Munasinghe.

Dela highlighted that Sri Lanka has ...