Two arrested for dumping cattle carcasses in Ritigala Reserve

By Kushan Jayawardane - Galkiriyagama

Two individuals were arrested for dumping body parts of slaughtered cattle inside the Ritigala Strict Nature Reserve, officials of the Ritigala Wildlife Sanctuary said.

The arrests were made during a joint operation by officers of the Ritigala and Alagollawa Wildlife Offices, carried out on the instructions of Ritigala Wildlife Sanctuary Warden D. Ramasinghe.

Investigations revealed that the suspects had transported cattle remains from a slaughterhouse in the Ganewalpola area of Kekirawa and illegally disposed of them in the reserve. 

Wildlife officers intercepted a lorry carrying several carcasses as the suspects were attempting to dump them inside the protected area.

The suspects, residents of Ganewalpola, have reportedly been engaged in this racket for some time, according to wildlife officers. The lorry used in the operation and the carcasses were taken into custody.

Officials said the dumping of animal remains poses a serious threat to the ecosystem and wildlife in the Ritigala Reserve.

The two suspects are to be produced before the Kekirawa Magistrate’s Court. 

The raid was conducted under the direction of Anuradhapura Wildlife Assistant Director W.M.K.S. Chandraratne. Further investigations are being carried out by the Ritigala Wildlife Conservation Office.