Two poachers who hunted rare wild animals in the Nikawearatiya area disguising themselves as paddy farmers have been arrested with two firearms.
Both of them were found to be residents of Nikaweratiya area of Kurunegala District. Both are fathers of two children and later it was revealed that their livelihood was hunting wild animals and selling their flesh to tourist hotels in the area.
A Police team led by Nikaweratiya ASP Samarakoon Bandara had arrested the suspects. Police sources revealed to the media that about 766 suspects were arrested last year over hunting wild animals and birds that have faced extinction by now. All of them were produced before courts for taking legal measures against them.
Kurunegala senior Divisional Secretary W. E. Jayathilake told Daily News that about 548 officials and 200 Police officers have been deployed since this year by the Wildlife Ministry to nab poachers and vandals countrywide as per the instructions of President Maithripala Sirisena and Wildlife Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera who is a Kurunegala District UNP Parliamentarian.