An environmental organization states that authorities have handed over the ownership of 12 elephants and tuskers in the Pinnawela elephant orphanage to friends last year.

An elephant from the Pinnawela orphanage is being illegally held in an entertainment center in the Ja-ela area and two elephants have been given to a senior Defence Ministry official and a new entrant to parliament from the Hambantota District.

These elephants are being handed over to the private sector according to the controversial gazette issued on May 25, 2011.