Order issued to arrest those who beat a leopard to death in Kilinochchi

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Kilinochchi Magistrate's Court issued an order today to immediately arrest those who beat a leopard to death in the Ambalkulam area. The leopard was attacked last afternoon and beaten to death. Several people including a wildlife officer were attacked by the leopard. Director General of Wildlife, M.G.C. Sooriyabandara said the area residents obstructed the operation carried out by the Wildlife officers to capture the leopard. He said the residents killed the leopard when the wildlife officials were planning to sedate it with the assistance of the Police Special Task Force. The Department of Wildlife presented facts before the Kilinochchi Magistrate Court today and the Magistrate Court issued an order to conduct investigations with the assistance of the video footage. Min. of Sustainable Development, Wildlife & Regional Dev. Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka stated that a separate investigation has been launched by his ministry and the wildlife department. The leopard that was beaten to death is one of the five species in the genus Panthera and this particular leopard is subspecies endemic to Sri Lanka. Environmentalist and Attorney-at-Law Jagath Gunawardena stated that according to Article 32 of the penal code, legal action could be taken against those involved in such acts. He further added that this was an offense and this should be communicated to the general public and that the Wildlife Department should be vigilant in dealing with such situations. The matter was also discussed in the parliament today.