Wildlife officers have arrested a suspect found in possession of elephant tusk fragments during a raid in the Diyabeduma area adjacent to Maduru Oya National Park.
A man has been taken into custody following a wildlife enforcement operation in the Diyabeduma region bordering Maduru Oya National Park. Officers from the Henanigala Wildlife Office conducted the raid on August 19 based on intelligence received, during which they discovered multiple pieces of elephant tusk among the suspect's belongings.
The Department of Wildlife Conservation confirmed that the seized items and the detainee are scheduled to appear before the Dehiattakandiya Magistrate's Court on August 20. Investigators are now working to establish the origin of the tusk fragments and the suspect's intentions in retaining them.
Under Sri Lankan wildlife law, elephants receive full legal protection through the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. The statute explicitly prohibits the possession, display, transport, or sale of any component from protected animals without proper authorization. The Department of Wildlife Conservation emphasized these protections in connection with the case, highlighting the serious nature of such violations.
