CID officers went to a leading private hospital in Colombo this evening to record the statement of the Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera regarding his possession of an elephant without having a permit to do so. The thera had been asked to report to the CID this morning but failed to do so.

Police spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekera said the thera had been asked to give a statement to the CID this morning about his keeping an elephant and its calf without a permit at the Alan Mathiniyaramaya Temple in Polhengoda.

However the thera had had himself admitted to a private hospital without reporting to the CID office.

Wildlife Department officer had raided the temple on January 28, 2015 and found the elephants there and taken them into custody. The Deputy Minister of Wildlife, Wasantha Senanayake, too, had participated in the raid.

The thera had not been able to produce any documents that gave him permission to keep the elephants. (Chaturanga Pradeep)