'Nadungamuwa Raja' the tusker who carried the sacred relic casket of the Kandy Esala perahera the most number of times, has passed away this morning.

The tusker was at the age of 69 years at the time of passing.

Born in 1953 in Mysore, India, Nadungamuwe Raja was one of the two elephant calves gifted by a Mysuru Maharaja to the veteran native physician monk resided in Nilammahara Temple Piliyandala in appreciation of curing his relative's long lasted illness, other elephant being late Nawam Raja of Gangaramaya.\\

It was one of the most protected animals in Sri Lanka and was considered a cultural icon.