Court Rules Elephants Are Public Property in Kavantissa Shooting Case

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Mahawa Magistrate's Court today (11) ordered the Department of Wildlife Conservation to hand over the investigation into the shooting of the tusker Kavantissa to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The order was made when the relevant case was taken up before court.

During the proceedings, Mahawa Magistrate Anuruddhika Seneviratne rejected arguments presented by the defence that elephants and tuskers do not fall under the scope of the Public Property Act.

The Magistrate stated that it is the position of her court that elephants and tuskers are covered under the Public Property Act.

Accordingly, the Magistrate instructed the Department of Wildlife Conservation to submit facts against the suspects under the provisions of the Public Property Act at the next hearing.

The Magistrate further stated that her court does not have the authority to grant bail to the two suspects, including the Skills Development Officer who has been arrested in connection with the incident.

The Magistrate ordered that the suspects be further remanded and postponed the case until the 25th.