• Pilgrims warned to be cautious when using the river

By K. D. Devapriya  

Pilgrims to Kataragama are perturbed by the danger of  crocodiles teeming in Menikganga. They said that they noticed  crocodiles frequenting the bathing places in the river.   

Residents of the area said an elderly woman in Sellakataragama area had fallen prey to crocodiles.  
Basnayake Nilame Dishan Gunasekara said the river had  swelled due to the heavy rain and turned muddy creating a foster ground  of crocodiles and warned the pilgrims to be cautious when using the  river.  

Residents of the area said the Department of Wildlife  Conservation had implemented a programme to capture crocodiles in  Menikganga and to release them to forest reserves, but it has been  stalled since 2017.