Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Ganja plantation inside Lunugamweh­era Park

- BY RUKMAN RATNAYAKA

A ganja plantation consisting of more than ten acres in the Lunugamveh­era National Park was destroyed by Wildlife Conservati­on Officers.

The ganja plantation was located at Bolhindaga­la about 18 kilometres in- side the national park. The forest had been cleared by felling large and valuable trees to set it up.

The suspects who got wind of the raid managed to flee the scene and evade arrest. The wildlife officials seized a large stock of consumer goods including rice, coconuts, flour, sugar and spices sufficient for about two weeks and a stock of fertiliser. They said the suspects had killed wild animals for meat and that the carcass of a pangolin, a protected species was found in the hut.The officials destroyed the plantation, the hut and the tools and equipment used by the sus- pects. Assistant Uva Province Wildlife Director Sisira Kumara De Silva who orchestrat­ed the raid said it was for the first time that such a large ganja plantation was found in the area. He said the individual­s concerned had felled valuable trees and cleared the jungle to plant ganja and that they had

It is the first time that such a large ganja plantation was found in the area. He said the individual­s concerned had felled valuable trees and cleared the jungle to plant ganja

been carrying on the racket for a long time.

Range Willdlife Officers, I.T. Ranjith, A.I. Kelum, A.L.A.S. Gamini, Shanthanan­da, Range Conservato­r Sumathi- sena, Wildlife Guard S. Kularatne carried out the raid with the help of officials of the Kataragama Wildlife Range and about 25 Civil Defence Department personnel.

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