IGP asked to arrest those who caused mayhem in Yala

Some of the vehicles involved in Yala mayhem

By Ifham Nizam

The Department of Wildlife Conservation yesterday decided to blacklist those who entered the Yala National Park on Monday and disturbed wild animals.

Officials of the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation are in the process of amending the Fauna and Flora Act.

They are also discussing the possibility of interdicting all the Trackers who accompanied the group involved in Monday’s incident.

Department’s Director General Chandana Suriyabandara said that those vehicles would not be able to enter any national park in Sri Lanka for three years.

Meanwhile, at a discussion held by Secretary to the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Chandra Herath on Yala National Park yesterday, several decisions were taken. It was decided to identify the vehicles and persons involved in the incident and prosecute them. In addition to the information currently available about the vehicles and people, the information published in the mass media and social media as well as photographic evidence and video footage, should also be taken into consideration.

The officials who allowed the group to enter the park will be suspended until thecompletion of the investigation for their failure to inform their superiors of the incident.