Perahera elephant on rampage SATURDAY, 25 MAY 2013 At least 24 persons were injured when an elephant went on rampage during a Perahera of  the Muthiyangana Temple last night, police said. Most of the injured persons including some children participating in it received minor injuries and were admitted to the hospital. Last week six children were injured when an elephant went on rampage during a Perahera of the Kandana temple in the Ganemulla junction on the Colombo – Kandy Road. BAN CATTLE SLAUGHTER IMMEDIATELY – WIMAL TO PRESIDENT May 25, 2013   Leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF) Wimal Weerawansa today requested the President to immediately ban the slaughtering of cattle within the country. In the wake of a Buddhist monk setting himself on fire yesterday to protest against the slaughter of cattle for meet, the Minister has written to President Mahinda Rajapaksa saying measures should be taken based on that incident.  The Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities further points out that the majority of the country’s Buddhist and Hindu people reject cattle slaughtering with disgust and that only a small group in Sri Lankan society approves of it.  He stated that in India, which has a majority of Hindu devotee, cattle slaughtering has been banned and that during festivals such as Thai Pongal they are kind enough to express gratitude to Cattle, who play an important role in the traditional Indian farmstead. As such it is greatly disappointing that cattle slaughtering continues to take place in Sri Lanka, a country which boasts an agricultural economic design, says Weerawansa . He therefore requests the President to take necessary measures to immediately ban cattle slaughtering in Sri Lanka.