Army Major General arrested for altercation with Wildlife Officers

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police arrested a Sri Lanka Army, Major General on Thursday (01) for an altercation with Wildlife Officers at the Minneriya National Park.

The Major General reported to the Habarana Police for voluntary surrender, said Police Spokesperson Senior DIG Ajith Rohana.

'The Major General said he wished to surrender to avoid any disrepute from being brought to the image of Sri Lanka Army," he added.

The Wildlife Officers of Habrana filed a complaint against the Major General while the Major General filed a complaint against the Wildlife Officers, he said adding the police following investigations reported facts to the court.

Sri Lanka Army in a media statement said that hours after an incident where a Senior Officer of the Army was involved in a heated altercation with a team of Wildlife Department officials in Habarana area was reported on Friday (25), the action was immediately taken by General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army to appoint a Board of Inquiry, headed by two Senior Major Generals to find and verify facts, related to the whole incident since Police complaints have been lodged.

This was in addition to a parallel Military Police investigation that came into effect soon after the incident.

The Board of Inquiry, still in progress recording necessary details and evidence, is expected to complete its findings shortly and hand it over to the Commander of the Army.