Illegal gemmers arrested by Bogawantalawa Police

By Ranjith Rajapaksa   

Bogawantalawa Police said that five suspects were arrested on the 11th while gemming illegally in the Keselgamu Oya and the Sri Pada Reserve without a permit, and destroying the environment.   

Three persons were arrested while gemming in Keselgamu Oya reserve and the other two suspects were arrested while gemming in Fettresso Estate near the Sri Pada reserve in the Bogawantalawa Police Division.   

Police have taken over earth with gem bearing soil along with the suspects and equipment used for gemming.   

IP Shantha Bandara of the Bogawantalawa Police said that the legal action would be taken in Hatton Magistrate Court against the suspects and that they were released on Police bail. The suspects are residents of Bogawantalawa.   

This raid was done by SI Karunaratna including PC Mallikaratna (76213), PC Ajith (76723), PC Sandamal (86469) PC Chandrasekera (86689), PC Indunil (91272), PC Samaranayaka (90489) and PC Nawaratnam (8723) on the instructions of SP Hatton Chulani Weeraratna together with Bogawantalawa Police OIC IP Shantha Bandara.