In a Facebook post replete with political innuendo, Minister Harin Fernando thanked Tikiri the elephant for retiring from "public life" gracefully.

The 70-year-old elephant sparked a controversy last week as it was made to take part in Kandy Perahara despite feeble age and various ailments.

Invoking merits on Tikiri for "illuminating'' the Kandy Perahera for years, Fernando said the elephant would silently shed tears of joy when a young elephant takes its place in the procession.

It is widely believed that Fernando's Facebook post was aimed at the Prime Minister who is on an exhausting mission to secure his Presidential candidacy of the UNP. Wickremesinghe, who has represented Parliament for over 40 years, also happens to be 70 years old.

Fernando has aligned himself with UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa who is challenging Wickremesinghe and projecting himself as the front-runner for presidential candidacy within the UNP.