Sri Lanka donates elephant to Beijing Zoo

Sri Lanka has donated an elephant to Beijing Zoo ahead of a scheduled visit by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on February 26.

The five-year old male elephant is expected to make his public debut in March.

Rajapakse will present two corneas to be used for transplants in China, Secretary of the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry Palitha Kohona said at a press conference on Thursday.

"Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country and Sri Lankan people believe that the most important and valuable present comes from the human body," Kohana said.

Sri Lanka began corneal transplants 50 years ago and has donated corneas to more than 50 countries.

Kohana said the two countries will sign a memorandum on corneal transplants during Rajapakse's stay in China, and the two countries will conduct more cooperation in this regard.

Rajapakse will also present a replica of a Buddha statue to China.

Source: Xinhua