• He had entered the national park, erected tents and gone on fishing for pleasure

 By  Nimal Jayarane- Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa District Former Parliamentarian Sydney Jayaratne (UNP) and 14 others had been arrested by the Wildlife Department for illegal entry to the Somawathie National Park and were released on bail pending legal action against them. A senior official of the Polonnaruwa Wildlife Conservation Office said the suspects would be produced before Hingurakgoda Magistrate after the curfew is lifted.

He said the 15 suspects including the former parliamentarian had illegally entered the national park, erected tents and gone on fishing for pleasure. The wildlife conservators said during the raid they seized eight motorcycles belonging to the suspects, the tents, fishing gear and several other articles including spotlights, knives, and cooking utensils.

Investigation revealed that the former parliamentarian had been on a visit to the area to look into a land belonging to him and entered the national park for fishing.

Polonnaruwa District  Wildlife Range Asst. Kumarasiri Wijekoon said the suspects were not involved in treasure hunting or any other criminal office. He said the suspects would be liable to legal action on the charges of unauthorised entry to the national park, erecting tents and lighting fire in the forest reserve.

A team of wildlife conservators and the STF from Aralaganwila had carried out the raid on the instructions of Polonnaruwa Asst. Director of Wildlife Conservation Kirthi Chandraratne.

• Suspects would be liable to legal action on the charges of unauthorised entry to the national park, erecting tents and lighting fire in the forest reserve