Former Opposition leader of Wennappuwa PS arrested for poaching

Three suspects, including the former Opposition leader of the Wennappuwa Pradeshiya Sabha in Chilaw, were arrested by officers of the the Special Task Force (STF) from the Meepilimana Kande Ela STF camp while attempting to transport the body of a Sambar (deer) which they had allegedly shot within the “Meepilimane Kande Ela” reserve.

It is alleged the trio had been involved in the illegal trafficking of poached game from the reserve to hotels in Chilaw over a long period of time.

The STF team led by its commanding officer Inspector Maluka Hettiarachchi, on hearing the sound of a gunshot within the reserve in the early hours of July 4 had following the direction of the sound and were able to capture the poachers as they were attempting to load the carcass into the cab.

The cab bearing the number plate 58-1596 which had reportedly been used to transport the deer had been spotted at various locations of Nuwara-Eliya by members of the public who tipped off the team. The weapon used for the shooting is reportedly a licensed firearm.

The suspects, A.B Indika Arawwela from Lihiniyagama, Wellawa in Chilaw, Wilbert Wickramasinghe Costa from Arawwela, Wellawa and Udaya Weththasinghe of Aluth Paara Wenapuwa, were handed over to the Nuwara-Eliya police by the STF.

The contents of the cab including the remains of the deer, the licensed firearm, eight rounds of live SG ammunition, blank bullets and a metal hook were handed over to the Nuwara Eliya police by the STF.

The anti-corruption unit of the Nuwara-Eliya police station produced the suspects before the Nuwera-Eliya Magistrate, Indika RuwandDe Silva, who ordered the suspects be remanded untill July 11.