Man attempting to trade elephant tusk through face book arrested

By Tony Karunanayaka  

A man who attempted to sell an elephant tusk for Rs.4.5 million through an advertisement in the face book was arrested by the Flying Squad of the  Forest Conservation Department and produced before Gampana Addl. Magistrate R.S.M.Mahendrarajah yesterday. The suspect was released on personal bail in Rs.500,000 and was ordered to appear in Court on May21.  
A group of officials who met the suspect under the pretext of buying tusk, arrested him during the transaction.  The suspect Samuda Naveen Jayasooriya was a resident of Pedipola- Udugampola in Gampaha. The Magistrate ordered the Director of National Museum to examine the tusk and report about the species of animal that it belonged to. He ordered the Wildlife Conservators to hand over the case production to the Director of National Museum.