Illicit gem miners arrested at Horton Plains National Park

A group of four illicit gem miners who had entered the Horton Plains National Park, cleared the forest and dug up a gem mine, were fined Rs.100,000 each and sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for five years. They were released on personal bail in Rs.100,000 each.

The suspects Sivalingam Prabhakaran, Kandasamy Manirasu, Moorthi Subramaniam and Kuppan Rajamanikkam who were residents of Balangoda and Watagoda areas, had on

They had been arrested by a team of Wildlife Conservators

May 5, entered Hirigalpotta area in the national park and dug up a gem mine.

They had been arrested by a team of Wildlife Conservators including the Officer-in-charge of the Horton Plains National Park, P.M.P. Pradeep Kumara.