Foreigners charged for collecting reptiles
by Shanika SRIYANANDA
A team of foreigners, belonging to a group called Exo-Terra, have
been arrested by officers of Department of Wildlife Conservation, with
amphibians and lizards prevalent in Kalpitiya on Saturday morning,
Department sources said.
They were produced before the Acting Magistrate of Puttalam who
ordered them to appear in Court on February 29.
According to sources their passports have been impounded. The group
has advertised the expedition to Sri Lanka in their web-site as:
http:@www.www.exo-terra.com/en/expeditions/expedition2011.php
The group comprising six foreigners from five countries, were
apprehended at Alankudawa in Kalpitiya who had four amphibians, star
tortises, DNA samples of certain reptiles, lizards and some plant
specimens.
Meanwhile the eco-groups appreciated the officers of the DWLC and
their DD/Law Enforcement Ranjan Marasingha, who led the raid personally.
We appreciate their commitment, dedication and efficiency in protecting
our bio-diversity", environmental lawyer Jagath Gunawardena said.
Gunawardena said under the Section 30 of the Fauna and Flora Act no
one was allowed to collect reptiles, keep them in their possession
unless the permission is given by the DWLC. " Similarly the Section 31A
applies to amphibians. Therefore any one who keeps any reptile or
amphibian or captured them or keeping any part of them in their
possession is liable to arrest without a warrant by the DWLC or the
Police", he said.
|