Three suspects arrested in Hali-Ela, Badulla while allegedly in possession of two elephant pearls — known as Gaja muthu — have been remanded until June 19 by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court, Hali-Ela Police said.
The suspects, aged 31, 30 and 26, are residents of Anthudawela and Pathanawatta in Hali-Ela. They were arrested on Tuesday (9) near the Ganadevi Devalaya on the Hali-Ela–Bandarawela road following a tip-off received by officers attached to the Uduwara Special Task Force (STF) camp.
During the operation, officers recovered two pieces suspected to be elephant pearls, weighing a total of 5,900 milligrams, from the suspects’ possession. The three were subsequently handed over to the Hali-Ela Police and later produced before the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.
Officials have also sought a special report from the Dehiwala Zoological Gardens to verify the authenticity of the two suspected pearls now in police custody. Further investigations are being conducted under the direction of the Officer-in-Charge of the Hali-Ela Police.
Elephant pearls, believed by some to come from the tusks or stomachs of elephants and traded as rare collector items, fall under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. Enforcement against the trade in protected wildlife parts has remained active across the country, with the Department of Wildlife Conservation earlier this year fining a Kotte suspect Rs. 150,000 for trying to sell deer and sambhur antlers.
Source: Ada Derana.
