Wildlife rangers arrested a Chinese at Mirijjawila in Hambantota for allegedly possessing a tortoise and a pangolin yesterday, the Wildlife Department said.

The man had allegedly intended to cook the captured animals in his Mirijjawila restaurant that supplies food to Chinese employees who work in the Hambantota Port.  

According to the Department, the suspect had also been arrested two months ago for possessing crocodile, tortoise and pangolin meat and fined Rs.320,000.    

After the suspect was produced in the Hambantota Magistrates Court, he had been fined Rs.300,000 for the yesterday’s offence.  

Wildlife guards H.B. Chandrananda, L.T. Dhammika, S. Siriwardhena and Civil Defence officer S. Sampath conducted the raid under the supervision of the wildlife range officer Ajith Gunathunga. (Sanath Desmond and Lahiru Pothmulla)