Watch: Sri Lankan elephant Raja becomes famous for ‘road tax’ collection

In a quirky twist on traditional road tolls, Raja, a wild elephant in Sri Lanka, has taken up the role of a toll collector along a busy route.

Rather than the usual toll booths manned by workers, Raja stations himself along the road in Ceylon, where he approaches passing vehicles and uses his trunk to nudge drivers and passengers.

Travelers, especially those journeying from Lunugamvehera to Sella Kataragama, often stop at roadside stalls to buy fruits like bananas in hopes of encountering Raja and his elephant companions. While some negotiations may take place, Raja typically gets what he asks for, with many handing over their food.

The video of Raja's toll-collecting antics went viral, garnering over 16 million views in less than 24 hours.

The humorous and heartwarming footage has sparked a flood of comments online, with viewers enjoying the playful interaction. Some joked about Raja's "business" skills, calling it "GST Gajraj Service Tax" and referring to him as a true "businessman."