Authorities at the Dehiwala National Zoological Gardens say that 32 pigeons have been stolen from the facility.
Deputy Director Hemantha Samarasekara told reporters that the theft was discovered over the weekend and that a complaint has been lodged with the Dehiwala Police.
The birds are believed to have been stolen either on Friday night or in the early hours of Saturday. It is suspected that the thieves broke open one of the cages to remove the pigeons.
Officials said the pigeons had been kept at the zoo under court orders as case exhibits in various legal proceedings.
Following the incident, disciplinary action has been taken against the official in charge of the section where the birds were housed, and his duties have been suspended pending inquiry, Samarasekara added.
Police say no arrests have been made so far, and a special investigation is under way to recover the stolen birds.(Newswire)