Major General released on bail

Alleged attempt to remove baby elephant from Minneriya National Park

A Major General, arrested after his surrender to the Habarana Police over an dispute with a group of Wildlife Officers at the Minneriya National Park was released on bail yesterday (01).

The Kekirawa Magistrate released the suspect on two personal bails of Rs. 500,000 each.

The officer was ordered to appear before court again on the 03 Feb. 2022.

On Saturday (26) the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) lodged a complaint with the Habarana Police that the suspect had obstructed and threatened its officers.

The DWC claimed that on Friday (25) their officers set up several check points at the Minneriya National Park after receiving a tip-off that some individuals were planning to remove a baby elephant that night.

The officials managed to intercept a group that tried to enter the park, in two vehicles, through a paddy field bordering the buffer zone of the park. The vehicles then sped away. But the suspects returned with the suspect Major General and threatened wildlife officers.