The Mahawa Magistrate’s Court yesterday (19) remanded two suspects arrested in connection with the shooting of the tusker Kawanthissa until October 28, directing wildlife officers to submit a detailed report establishing their alleged involvement.
Mahawa Magistrate Anuradha Seneviratne issued the order after considering submissions by wildlife officers and lawyers representing the suspects, Ratnayake Mudiyanselage Lakmal Padmasiri and Shantha Dharmasiri Ratnayake.
The two men, arrested by the Walana Anti-Vice Unit, were handed over to wildlife officers and produced before court yesterday afternoon following questioning. Wildlife officers filed separate cases against them.
During proceedings against Padmasiri, a wildlife officer told court that the suspect had been arrested based on information uncovered during investigations. The officer alleged that Padmasiri had violated the conditions of his firearm license and was suspected of using the weapon to shoot Kawanthissa.
Attorney Udaya Rajapaksha, appearing for Padmasiri, challenged those submissions, arguing that his client had neither breached the license conditions nor been linked to the shooting by any evidence.
He alleged that officers had entered the village following public unrest over the tusker’s death and taken six licensed firearm holders into custody.
The lawyer further submitted that no scientific examination had established a connection between his client’s firearm and the shooting. He argued that the weapon could have been examined by the Government Analyst before allegations were made against his client.
When the case against Ratnayake was taken up, court was told that he was an officer attached to a Divisional Secretariat with 20 years of service and owned several cultivated plots. His lawyer submitted that although he possessed a firearm for agricultural purposes, he had never used it.
The Magistrate questioned wildlife officers about the evidence linking Ratnayake to the shooting. The officers did not provide a clear answer.
She directed them to submit specific details at the next hearing, including how and when each suspect had allegedly participated in the offense, any scientific evidence linking the firearms to the shooting, and details of any eyewitnesses.
The Magistrate stressed that the suspects’ remand could not be extended without adequate grounds and ordered both men to remain in custody until October 28.
