Wildlife officers concerned over their safety after spat with senior army officer

By Ifham Nizam

Wildlife officials have sought a meeting with State Ministry secretary, Major General (Rtd) Palitha Fernando to discussed concerns over their personal safety following last week’s incident, where a senior military officer allegedly obstructed their duties and threatened an officer.

“We are worried of reprisals after the altercation with a high-ranking army officer at Habarana”, they said.

Army Commander Shavendra Silva has already appointed a Board of Inquiry to probe the incident. A parallel military police investigation will also be conducted into the incident, the army said.

Two army vehicles had entered the Minneriya National Park and defied an order by wildlife officers to stop. Later, they had given chase to the vehicles and an altercation had ensued at Habarana.

Wildlife officers alleged that the senior military officer had obstructed their duties and threatened one of them with death.

Wildlife officials said one of their men had recorded the incident on his mobile phone.

The army officer, Major General Mohan Ratnayake of the 21 Brigade, who surrendered to the Habarana police on Thursday was arrested and produced before the Kekirawa Magistrate, Saman Kariyawasam Waruniyagoda, who released him on two sureties of Rs. 500,000 each.

Counsel for Maj. Gen. Ratnayake denied allegations that his client obstructed the duties of wildlife officers and threatened them.

“He is a disciplined senior military officer who was in the war front”, the Counsel told court.

After releasing the suspect army officer on bail, the Magistrate ordered him to appear in court again on February 22, 2022.

Both parties had earlier lodged police complaints regarding the incident.