The programme was conducted by the ministry of Sustainable Development and Wildlife.

The ivory came from a single shipment of 359 tusks, weighing 1.5 tons, seized by customs authorities at the Port of Colombo in May 2012. The shipment was in transit from Kenya to Dubai. DNA testing later showed that the tusks came from Tanzania.

According to the National Geographic, Sri Lanka’s destruction of its ivory, the first by a country in South Asia, brings to 16 the total so far.

The ivory was crushed at and burned in a city incinerator. A collection of stamps commemorating 07 endangered animal species was also launched while a Pansukula - (a Buddhist ritual done to transfer merits to the departed) was also held in memory of the elephants that had tragically died in various confrontations.

Speaking to National Geographic, former deputy director of Sri Lanka Customs - Samantha Gunesekera has said, “We can show the world that we are also in the CITES family... We convey that message throughout the world, [and to] our people.”

(Pics : Roshan Chathuranga)