Samarappulige Niraj Roshan, alias Ali Roshan, was sentenced to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court (HC) for possessing an elephant without a valid permit. 

He was also fined Rs. 20.6 million, while the elephant was ordered to be confiscated. The verdict, delivered by Justices Manjula Thilakaratne, R.S.S. Sapuvida, and Lanka Jayaratne, followed a lengthy trial. 

Three other defendants were acquitted and released.