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)

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A woman who appeared in a viral video dancing with a python has been arrested by the Department of Wildlife Conservation and later released on bail of Rs. 500,000 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

Wildlife officials told the court that the incident took place during an Avurudu Pageant in Colombo on March 20, where the contestant used a python (Python molurus), a species protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance.

They revealed that the suspect had rented the python from a man in Puttalam for Rs. 25,000 and returned it immediately after the event.

The officials stressed that using the python in such a manner constitutes a punishable offence under Section 30 (1)(a) of the Ordinance.

The suspect was produced before Court No. 05 of the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court complex, where the Additional Magistrate granted bail. 

The case has been fixed for May 15, 2026, for further reporting on the progress of investigations and for suspects to reappear.

The Colombo District Range Office in Bellanwila will continue investigations, including recording statements from other suspects and taking necessary persons into custody. (Newswire)

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