Forest officials have arrested a group of 22 young individuals, including five females, for trespassing in the Knuckles Reserve and setting up illegal campfires. The suspects, aged between 20 and 30, hail from various regions such as Bandarawela, Colombo, Badulla, and Kandy.
Among those arrested are university students, a person purportedly affiliated with the security forces, and private sector employees. According to a senior forest official, the group organized the gathering within the reserve via Facebook and other social media platforms without proper permission.
An investigation conducted by forest officials revealed that the group entered the reserve on Saturday night and held a party inside the protected area.
