4 individuals, including two German nationals, have been fined a total of Rs. 10.69 million after pleading guilty to collecting live wild animals and animal remains from a protected forest area in Sri Lanka.
The case was taken up before the Tissamaharama Magistrate’s Court on Friday (06), involving the collection of wildlife specimens from the Babawa Uddarakanda Forest Reserve.
The four accused pleaded guilty to the charges, following which the court imposed fines amounting to Rs. 10,692,000.
The court released the offenders on personal bail of Rs. 5 million and Rs. 6 million, while ordering them to settle the full fine at the next hearing, scheduled for November 13.
The Magistrate also imposed overseas travel bans on the offenders and directed that the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration be informed.
The court further ordered the confiscation of the seized wildlife specimens and other case-related items.
Wildlife officials, led by Wildlife Range Officer K.D.N. Muthukelum, conducted the prosecution proceedings with the assistance of several other officers. (Newswire)