• A 58-year-old diver was killed by the crocodile recently

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama

The Wildlife Director General (DG) has been instructed to launch a search operation in Dehiwala to capture the crocodile in the seas off the Dehiwala coast, Wildlife and Forest Conservation Minister C. B. Rathnayake said. 

He said a 58-year-old diver who was diving at Dehiwala beach was mauled by a crocodile in the Dehiwala sea area recently.

“The crocodile must have reached the sea through the river mouth and must have been lurking in the sea. Normally crocodiles don’t survive in the sea but the giant reptile may have been searching for the river mouth where it came from,” Minister Rathnayake said.

Therefore, the Wildlife Director-General was advised to conduct a search operation to capture the crocodile with the help of the Navy, the Minister said. 

The search operation is underway, the Minister added. 

• The crocodile must have reached the sea through the river mouth and must have been lurking in the sea