23 illegally captured elephants owned by government supporters

18 August 2014 03:59 am - 12 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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There are 23 elephant calves illegally caught from the forests owned by leading supporters of the government, said two UNP Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council members, Sandeeth Samarasinghe and Heshan Vithanage, at a PC meeting.

PC member Heshan Vithanage also presented a list containing the names of the elephants, places of capture, and places where they were kept.

He said the elephants, Singithi, Kandula, Sanju, Chutimenike, Sandaka, Panchali Sakura, Wasthu Parami and two unnamed elephants had been captured from the Habarana jungle, while Ganga Bhanu Suddi, Devumi, Samadi, Seedevi, Sanka, and another unnamed elephant had been captured in Udawalawa.

There are another three elephants whose places of capture are not known, he said, showing the pictures of the elephants to the councillors.

Today it has become a fashion for some people to keep elephants as pets; and elephants would soon become extinct as a result, he said.

Lalith Ambanwala of the Auditor General’s Department who detected the illegal capture of elephants had been transferred, he said. But Waruna Liyanage of the UPFA said he had been given a promotion and that the taming of elephants would reduce the wild elephant problem.

The council’s opposition leader Thusitha Wijemanna said these elephants would be a danger to the people when they become violent due to the lack of their mothers’ love.

Chief Minister Maheepala Herath said every possible measure would be taken to protect the wild elephants.

According to a 2012 census, there are 5,800 wild elephants in the country, and most of them live in the dry zone.(Upsara Yoshith Wijesuriya)

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Comments - 12

mnsmart Monday, 18 August 2014 04:10 AM

and also the important grown up elephants too are in the government....

Mason Monday, 18 August 2014 04:18 AM

These are in addition to those that crossed over on their own !

HellWelcomes Monday, 18 August 2014 04:22 AM

Government supporters love elephants and hope they will start loving Elephant symbol too.

ANTON Monday, 18 August 2014 04:30 AM

ELEPHANT IN HAMBANTHOTA IS STILL NOT OWNED BY ANY ONE.

chandi Monday, 18 August 2014 04:30 AM

everything is owned by government henchmen......what a nation poor people are suffering to the max???????????????

Public Monday, 18 August 2014 04:38 AM

Nowadays to feed ones own child itself is a big deal! How come they will look after the huge mammal? From where will they find funds? From the General Public?

Ali Baba Monday, 18 August 2014 05:03 AM

This article has all the information other than the most important one.... ie Names of the culprits..... we need to know the names of the culprits not the elephents

indi Monday, 18 August 2014 05:11 AM

UPFA Supporters Love elephants, Why they don't join UNP?

Calistus Jayatilleke Monday, 18 August 2014 08:28 AM

All the "ali horu" are in the UPFA.

dayan Monday, 18 August 2014 10:06 AM

Why cant UNP atleast make a strong case over this national crime ? what kind of a main opposition we have ? end of the day take pride in defending your own brand.

Citizen Monday, 18 August 2014 04:26 PM

Hora Ali with Ali Horu. via DM iPad app

Renu Monday, 18 August 2014 11:53 AM

What about Kalutara district Ali hora transporting one from Kandy and caught in Matale . Ealier he was chain hora

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23 illegally captured elephants owned by government supporters

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