The Millennium Elephant Foundation is a small charity-run sanctuary on a 15-acre coconut plantation a couple of kilometres south of the orphanage, in the village of Hiriwadunna. It currently looks after a handful of elderly and rescued elephants, most of them retired from a lifetime of work in the timber trade or at temples, and runs an on-site mobile veterinary unit that treats elephants across the country.
Visits are far more intimate than at the main orphanage — guided walks, river bathing, and assisted feeding sessions are all small-group and most of the entry fee goes back into the elephants' care. The foundation has actively phased out elephant rides, which sets it apart from much of the Sri Lankan elephant-tourism industry. For travellers uneasy about Pinnawela's scale and chains, this is the more ethical place to spend a morning.