“ Nadungamuwe Raja ” (The King of Nadungamuwa) is the Noble Tusker who bears the “ Sri Dalada Karanduwa ”
(main casket contains Noble Relics of Gauthma Thathagatha Buddha) at the procession of Esala in Kandy.
Nadungamuwe Raja was a gift offered to the Neelammahara Weda Hamuduruwo (A Buddhist monk from Neelammahara,
who practiced indigenous medicine) by the Last Maharaja of Maisoor in India.
Presently Tusker is owned by Harsha Dharmawijaya Weda Ralahami (Indigenous Doctor of Nadungamuwa.).
Nadungamuwe Raja is a one of the world’s few living Asian tuskers to have an extremely long pair of Tusks.
Mahout Wilson Kodithuwakku has been the official Mahout of the Tusker for over 12 years and both Tusker and Mahout Wilson are at the same age.
That is 65 years old (as of 2016). Wilson Kodithuwakku’s wife passed away 15 years ago, leaving behind with him, a son and daughter.
These set of photographs are an effort to portray the bond between Nadungamuwe Raja and Mahout Wilson Kodithuwakku.
You and me until end …Shall I protect, till my last breath …
There willcome a day… quite soon..
To wipe away some one’s tears,
If I die before you…There’ll be no one to wipe your tears,
If you die before me…To wipe tear off my eyes, no one will be there…
Yet I wish a one thing...
That before I die…I will be your Stallion ‘Kanthaka’…
As I shall never leave your side…
At the time when you become a king again…
Leaving behind all to become the Enlightened One…
- Sadun Bandara
