Sri Lanka on Tuesday strongly rebutted media reports about gifting two elephants to Pakistan’s Karachi and Lahore zoos after the tragic death of an elephant at the zoological gardens.
Dismissing the media reports that Sri Lanka would gift two elephants to Pakistan, the Sri Lankan High Commission in Islamabad took to Twitter on Tuesday to say that no such request has been made so far.
Sri Lanka has not taken action or discussed in providing Elephants to the Zoo’s in Karachi or Lahore, neither Government of Pakistan has made any such request.
This post indicate the correct position in view of certain articles in media and discussions on going on social media. pic.twitter.com/ErMF7hJXAn— Sri Lanka High Commission in Pakistan (@SLinPakistan) April 25, 2023
It should be noted that on April 23, Geo News quoted Sri Lanka Honorary Counsel General Yasin Joya as saying that Sri Lanka will be sending two female elephants to Pakistan — one for the Karachi Zoo and another for Lahore.
“Some social media do miss-quote referring me for this statement,” Yasin Joyia clarified in a tweet on Monday night.
This is to clarify that I have not made any statement regarding SL- government’s willingness to gift
two elephants to Pakistan. Some social media do miss-quote referring me for this statement. SriLankan gov. has already imposed ban on gifting /transferring any animals 1— Yasin Joyia (@joyia_yasin) April 24, 2023
He said that Sri Lankan government has already imposed a ban on gifting any animals.
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Pakistan also tweeted a statement clarifying the matter.
“Sri Lanka has not taken action or discussed providing Elephants to the Zoo in Karachi or Lahore, and nor the Government of Pakistan has made any such request,” they said.
“Sri Lanka has not taken action or discussed providing Elephants to the Zoos in Karachi and Lahore, neither Government of Pakistan has made any such request,” the mission tweeted.
