Three Russian smugglers remanded till Mar.12

By Shantha Chandrasiri and Shelton Hettiarachchi  

Nuwara Eliya Magistrate Pamoda Jayasekera yesterday remanded three Russians until March 12 on charges of attempting to smuggle 550 animals belonging to 23 species and parts of several trees said to have been collected at the Horton Plains National Park.   

Among the animals were chameleons, scorpions, frogs, geckos, snails, spiders and snakes.  

The Magistrate directed that the animals be referred for identification.   

The raid was carried out by Horton Plain National Park Warden P.M.P.K. Pradeep Kumara, Deputy Warden T.P. Dayaratne, Wildlife range assistant P.M.P. Panawalage wildlife guard Priyadarshana, field assistant Udaya Kumara and driver Chandralal.