A young woman who danced with a python at an Avurudu Kumari competition and the suspect who sold her the animal have been fined after being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
The incident, which drew wide attention on social media, was investigated by the Colombo District Wildlife Range Office in Bellanwila of the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
According to the Department of Wildlife Conservation, both the woman and the suspect who provided the python for money were taken into custody and charged under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance.
At the hearing reconvened on July 22, the suspects admitted guilt. The Magistrate ordered the young woman to pay a fine of Rs. 50,000 for keeping and using a protected animal for dancing, while the other suspect was fined Rs. 100,000 for keeping and selling a protected animal.
Wildlife officials stressed that under the law, keeping, transporting, exhibiting, or selling any protected wild animal is strictly prohibited, and violators are subject to arrest. (Newswire)