Ambassador to China Karunatilaka Amunugama, who helped initiate the gift back in 2007, attended the ceremony and lit candles of friendship with his Chinese counterparts. He said the elephant is considered very special and is one of the highest-level animals in Sri Lanka. "We treat them well and we look after them well, and they are very precious to us. So giving an elephant to another country or people—it's a very special occasion," Amunugama said.

The ambassador explained that the Migara is one of Sri Lanka's historical heroes and symbolizes the real strength of the Sri Lankan peoples.

School kids did a special Mongolian dance on stage at the birthday ceremony, and a choir from Sri Lanka also performed with their own special drummer. Everyone then joined together to sing the Happy Birthday song. Two Chinese school kids, as well as representatives from both countries, joined Amunugama in cutting Migara's cake before feeding it to the elephant.