Two poachers have been arrested and a muzzle loader shot-gun seized by Tissamaharama Police during investigations in to the shooting at Yala National Park.

A suspected poacher died when the Wildlife Conservation Officers opened fire during a raid.

Police said the dead have been identified as Hewa Geeganage Shantha Lakmal (33), a resident of Pallimulla in Wedehitikanda in Kataragama and a father of two children.

Wildlife Officers informed the Police that they carried out the raid on a tip to arrest a group of poachers and that they were compelled to open fire when one of the poachers attempted to shoot at them. They said the suspects were in possession of a stock of venison and a muzzle loader shot-gun and that the poacher injured in the shooting died on admission to the Kataragama District Hospital.

The officers also seized a muzzle loader gun, a stock of venison, a bag of gun powder and a kris knife.

The Police said the Magisterial inquiry at the scene could not be held today due to torrential rain in the area and were ordered to refer the body to the Hambantota General Hospital for the post mortem examination.(M.K.Nanadasena and Nelson Piyaratne )