Five suspects have been arrested for illegally clearing forest land in the Kahalla Pallekele Sanctuary, claiming the forest was encroaching on their crops, wildlife officials said.
The raid was carried out by the Galkiriyagama Wildlife Conservation Office, which also seized a JCB machine being used by the suspects during the clearing operation.
The illegal activity took place in Walpalugama, within the Kahalla Pallekele Sanctuary of the Galkiriyagama Wildlife Conservation Area. Officials said the suspects had attempted to burn and destroy sections of the forest while working to clear around five acres of land.
Among the arrested individuals was the driver of the backhoe. The suspects told officials they were attempting to reclaim land for cultivation.
They, along with the seized backhoe, were scheduled to be produced before the Kekirawa District Magistrate’s Court yesterday (29).
