At a media briefing at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy yesterday (28), he said the Maligawa had 12 tuskers, but the Kataragama Devale had only one elephant, who is on the heat now.

He said he was prepared to pay the expenses if the minister found five elephants for him.

However, minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera refuses to accept the challenge.

He says he will respond upon receipt of a report into the number of elephants available for the Dalada Perahera by the association of tamed elephant owners, of which Walisundara too, is a member.