DEPUTY MINISTER INDIKA REFUTES ALLEGATIONS RELATING TO KILLED TUSKER

The Housing and Construction Deputy Minister Indika Bandaranayake says that he would resign from his portfolio if anyone proves that he has connections to the killing of tusker Dala Poottuwa.

He was responding to a question posed by Hiru news team.

The Deputy Minister is accused by certain sections of harbouring the suspects linked to the killing of the elephant.

However, the Deputy Minister admitted that one of the suspects currently on remand supported him during the last general election.

10 suspects have already been arrested in connection with the gunning down of Galgamuwe Dala Poottuwa and they are on remand.

Two Gramaseva ocers were arrested last Saturday along with three ivory pendants.

Meanwhile, Law and Order Minister Sagala Rathnayake posted a twitter stating that stern legal action will be taken against those kill elephants.

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Dalaputtuwa killing: Two Grama Niladharies arrested

Two Grama Niladharis were arrested on charges of being in possession of three ivory pendants during a raid on a house at Polpithigama.

The Polpithigama Police said the arrests were made on a tip off received by the Nikaweratiya Division Intelligence Unit.

They said suspects, one of whom was 32 and the other 43, were residents of Ma-Eliya and Makulpotha and would be produced in the Mahawa Magistrate's Court shortly.

The police said they launched investigations after the Walana- Panadura Anti-Vice Striking Unit had recovered a pair of elephant tusks and an ivory gemstone also known as gaja muthu from the possession of two suspects on November 23. One of the suspects was a Grama Niladhari.

Investigations had revealed that the tusks and the gaja muthu were removed from the Galgamuwe tusker better known as the Dala Poottuwa.

On Friday, the Police arrested five people on suspicion of being involved in the killing of this majestic tusker. (Darshana Sanjeewa)

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Ballistic Shockwave Sensors For Wild Elephants

The Government has drawn its attention to replacing the existing GPS collars with ballistic shock sensors to identify wild elephants.

Several environmental activists’ organizations met Wildlife Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera yesterday (05) to discuss the killing of the tusker, Galgamuwe Dala Poottuwa and other issues with regard to wild elephants.

The environmental activist, Shashikalana Ratwatta told our news team that they decided to x
40 ballistic shock sensor collars to wild elephants under the rest phase of the programme.

Meanwhile, police arrested 3 suspects with 3 elephant pearls in their possession at Palukandawa in Galgamuwa yesterday (05).

The seized elephant pearls are believed to have been extracted from the slain tusker, Galgamuwe Dala Poottuwa.

The suspects who have been arrested on a tip-off, are residents of Galgamuwa.

Earlier, 10 suspects were arrested in connection with the killing of the tusker.

Several elephant pearls and a few ivory pendants believed to have been made of the tusks of the slain wild elephant were also seized by the police thereafter.

In addition, CID is continuing investigations to arrest few more suspects linked to the killing of the tusker.

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