Suspects arrested for robbing tourists at Wilpattu National Wildlife Park

COLOMBO (News 1^st) - Five suspects were arrested on allegations of robbing tourists who visited the Wilapattu National Wildlife Park. According to the Nochchiyagama Police, five suspects arrested include Safari drivers and tour guides. Tourists who come to visit the Wilpattu National Wildlife Park usually take lodging at tourist resorts located around the park. Owners of these resorts usually provide the visitors with a safe to keep their valuables. There had been a number of incidents where money and valuable items of tourists were stolen from these safes while the tourists were outdoors. According to Police, belongings of two US nationals, two couples from Netherlands and United Kingdom were stolen in this manner, while the safe's also disappeared. A search operation carried out today (March 4) managed to recover items hidden at several places. Items included,

• Four Credit Cards
• Three Passports
• One International Driving License
• A camera worth Rs. 8 Lakhs
• Cash

Police Officers in civil attire also joined the search operation. Police said the suspects were arrested based on an operation carried out using their mobile records. The suspects were residents of Horiwila and they will be produced before the Thambuttegama Magistrate Courts tomorrow. “The safe of the rest house was lost when 2 US nationals were lodging here. We lodged a complaint with the Nochchiyagama Police. I thank the Nochchiyagama Police for arresting these suspects. They live in this area and they have robbed several other places as well.” - An employee of the Rest House