- Agbo found safe in Nachchaduwa
Five more suspects allegedly involved in the shooting of the Kavantissa tusker and related illegal activities have been arrested during a joint operation by the Wildlife Conservation Department, the Panadura Walana Central Anti-Vice Strike Force and the Police, the Environment Ministry said. They are being questioned by Wildlife Conservation officers and the Galgamuwa Police.
Meanwhile, the two main suspects arrested in connection with the shooting were remanded until 28 October by Maho Magistrate Anuradha Senavirathna when they were produced before Court yesterday (19).
One of them, a Skills Development Officer attached to the Ehetuwewa Divisional Secretariat, was arrested on 18 October by officers of the Strike Force and the Department. Investigations have revealed that he was directly involved in the shooting. A 12-bore firearm, a muzzle-loading ‘cap gun’ and 24 rounds of ammunition were seized from his residence. There were also reports that he had previously shot an elephant called Diana.
Investigations have been expanded to locate the firearms used in the shooting and to determine whether an organised syndicate targeting wild animals was operating in the area.
Kavantissa, regarded as Sri Lanka’s largest and tallest living tusker, died on 16 October in a paddy field in Galgamuwa while receiving treatment for a gunshot wound to its right foreleg.
The tusker Agbo, missing for several days, was found yesterday morning roaming in the Nachchaduwa Reservoir Forest Reserve in Thirappane following a joint search by the Army and Wildlife Conservation officers, the Defence Ministry Spokesperson said.
Thirappane Wildlife Conservation Range Assistant Buddhika Athukorala, who is in charge of the area, confirmed that the tusker was in good health.
The search, in its second day, involved 50 Army personnel and three drones, after information that Agbo had travelled from Eruwewa along the A-9 road towards the reservoir on 18 October.
North-Western Wildlife Zone Veterinary Surgeon Dr Isuru Hewakottage has reportedly resigned from his post, citing severe allegations and criticism on social media over his treatment of Kavantissa. He has not yet formally resigned from the Department.
Former Wildlife Veterinary Unit Director Dr Tharaka Prasad said the treatment followed standard procedures and recommended dosages.
Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody told The Daily Morning that the Ministry would probe firearms in public possession with the support of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), citing a series of elephant shootings, including one involving a Type-56 rifle.
He said an independent investigation into Kavantissa's death would include external experts in environmental law, criminal law and veterinary surgery, while post-mortem samples had been sent to the Peradeniya pathology department and several private institutions.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) plans to take legal action, with environmental lawyer Dr Ravindranath Dabare claiming that body parts needed for a complete post-mortem were being buried rather than preserved. The CEJ will also seek a formal and organised system for treating harmed or injured elephants in the wild.
Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, addressing the Presidential Environmental Awards in Colombo yesterday, said environmental laws would be enforced strictly without discrimination or favouritism.