SLPP Co-op Director Remanded Over Kavantissa Shooting

COLOMBO (News 1st); R.M. Shantha Dharmasiri Ratnayake, a Director of the Galgamuwa Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society affiliated with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), who was arrested last night on suspicion of shooting the tusker Kavantissa, and another suspect, have been remanded until October 28.

The order was issued after the two suspects were produced before Mahawa Magistrate Anuradha Seneviratne today.

The two suspects were arrested last night following several days of investigations conducted in and around Galgamuwa by a team from the Walana Anti-Corruption Unit and a special team from the Department of Wildlife Conservation in the Western Province.

Police said a licensed foreign-manufactured 12-bore firearm, a locally-made firearm, and 24 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the possession of R.M. Shantha Dharmasiri Ratnayake, a Director of the Galgamuwa Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society affiliated with the SLPP.

Police further stated that the suspect possessed ammunition in excess of the limits permitted under the firearm licence.

According to police, of the 16 rounds of ammunition issued under the licence, only one round was found, while no spent cartridges relating to the remaining ammunition were recovered from the suspect.

Along with Shantha Dharmasiri Ratnayake, R.M. Lakmal Padmakumara was also arrested and subsequently handed over to wildlife officials.

The two suspects were produced before court today by officers attached to the Galgamuwa Wildlife Range Office. However, no detailed explanation regarding the progress of the investigation was presented to court.

Wildlife officials informed court that two licensed firearms had been found in the possession of the suspects and requested that bail not be granted, citing the public concern surrounding the incident.

Appearing for the suspects, Attorney-at-Law Udaya Rajapaksha argued that wildlife officials had produced the suspects before court without any direct investigative evidence linking them to the shooting.

The defence counsel further submitted that the suspects were farmers who had erected elephant fences and carried out agricultural activities in a lawful manner, and therefore had no reason to shoot elephants.

Objecting to the request for remand based solely on the public attention generated by the case, the defence requested that the suspects be released on bail.

Mahawa Magistrate Anuradha Seneviratne expressed dissatisfaction over the manner in which wildlife officials had handled the case, stating that there appeared to be insufficient grounds at present to deny bail.

However, considering the national attention surrounding the death of the tusker Kavantissa, the Magistrate ordered that the suspects be remanded until October 28 and directed wildlife officials to present further facts to court on that date.