Wildlife officers attached to the Udawalawe National Park have uncovered an illegally cultivated cannabis plot inside the protected reserve on Thursday (14).
The cultivation site was located in the Ali Dutugala area under the Panahaduwa range office and covered approximately a quarter of an acre.
No suspects were present at the location at the time of the raid, and the cannabis plants were subsequently uprooted and destroyed by fire, while details of the operation were reported to the Embilipitiya Magistrate’s Court.
Investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible for the cultivation.
The raid was carried out by officers attached to the Panahaduwa Wildlife Protection Office under the direction of area wildlife officials. (Newswire)