Poachers selling poisoned meat

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Two more individuals have been arrested in connection with the recent spate of cases involving the poisoning of animals in the Somawathiya National Park. During a search conducted by the Department of Wildlife yesterday (August 05), officials discovered the carcases of several animals. Initial investigations have led officials to suspect that the water sources were poisoned which led to the deaths. A wildlife officer had the following to say;

"..What we saw were only a few of the dead animals. There could be many more. Meat is being sold rapidly these days but the villagers don't eat them because they know it is poisoned.."

Meanwhile, during a raid conducted early last morning, officers of the Department of Wildlife arrested a suspect with a stock of venison. Two other suspects remain in the custody of the Department of Wildlife and are due to be produced before court. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the suspects kill the animals and sell their meat to hotels and restaurants in the Kaduruwela, Medirigiriya and Hingurakgoda area. Environmentalist Sajeewa Chamikara stated that according to the Article 30 of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, some of the animals that have been killed are protected and that it is absolutely illegal to kill these animals under any circumstance. He noted that a person could be arrested, without a warrant, for such a crime adding that he/she could face a prison sentence of over 2 years and be fined between Rs. 20,000 to 50,000.