The arrest was made today (17) in the Mahiyanganaya area following a sting operation conducted by Wildlife officials from the Ritigala Site Security Office, who had been posing as buyers since last February.
According to reports, the suspect — a resident of the Mahiyanganaya tribal village — had been preparing to sell Gajamuthu, a small ivory piece, leopard skin, tiger oil, seven pieces of ebony wood, 35 pieces of bamboo, and other rare timber. Authorities also seized spare parts used to make a shotgun, honey collection cables, and various illegal equipment during the raid.
The suspect has been taken to the Girandurukotte Elephant Control Unit for further questioning and will be produced before the Mahiyanganaya Magistrate’s Court tomorrow (18) along with the case file.
The Sri Lanka Air Force Intelligence Unit also assisted in the operation, which officials say marks the largest seizure of Gajamuthu in Sri Lankan history.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the smuggling operation may have been linked to activities within the Maduru Oya National Park, located near the suspect’s village.
The raid was conducted under the direction of Wildlife Director General Ranjan Marasinghe, with the support of Anuradhapura Assistant Director K.S. Chandraratne, Central Assistant Director S.G. Wickramathilaka, and teams led by officers including D. Ramasinghe, K.P. Udaya Karunanayake, W.M.J. Sandanuwan, S.M.S.K. Seneviratne, and G.W.G. Sampath Geeth Ratnaweera.
