By Pushpakumara Mallawaarachchi   

The Gampaha district Wildlife Office said that two individuals had been arrested while attempting to sell a crested hawk eagle which is a species of raptor which is protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance.

The arrest had taken place on 8 May at Welivita. The arrested suspects were from Kotikawatta and Wellampitiya, the office said.   

Based on information received through Facebook regarding the availability of a Crested Hawk Eagle being advertised for sale the Gampaha District Wildlife Director, Lalith Wickramaarachchi, had deployed a forest officer posing as a prospective buyer to net the persons involved in the racket.

The suspects who contacted the officer who posed as a buyer had quoted the selling price of the raptor as 36500 rupees and after much bargaining had agreed to part with it at 35000 rupees. Both parties had agreed to meet at Welivita to finalise the transaction. When the suspects had shown up at the location with the bird, officers including the Wildlife Director had swooped in and arrested the two suspects.   

It has been revealed that the bird had been captured from the Muturajawela marsh land. Wildlife officers suspect the involvement of a large group of suspects who are currently involved in the lucrative trade and that they may have been involved in the illegal capture and sale of protected Fauna and Flora over a long time. 

The suspects are to be produced before the Kaduwela Courts. while Further investigations are being carried out with regards to the incident.