Two arrested for intimidating forest officials

Charged with poaching and felling trees in Anavilundawa wetlands

Two suspects produced in court on charges of threatening with death and intimidating a group of seven forest officials including the officer in charge of Anavilundawa Ramsa World Heritage Wetland were released by Chilaw District Judge and Magistrate Manjula Ratnayake on personal bail of Rs.1 million with two sureties each.

The suspects were ordered to report to Arachchikattuwa Police between 9am and 10am every Sunday and refrain from interfering with the duties of the forest officials in any manner

The suspects Jayasinghe Arachchilage Tharinue Sulochana and Pattini Kuttige Nonis were resident of Arachchikaruwa area. They were arrested on complaint received from Anavilundawa Forest Officer R.G. Somasundara that the suspect were fishing in lakes in the Anawilundawa wetland, poaching and felling trees and that they threatened with death and intimidated the officials who had taken steps to prevent it.

The suspects were ordered to report to Arachchikattuwa Police between 9am and 10am every Sunday and refrain from interfering with the duties of the forest officials in any manner.

OIC Crime Investigation Branch IP Maya Ranjan produced the suspects in court.