Wildlife crimes are mostly committed with local weapons - Director General says

Mr. Ranjan Marasinghe, Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, states that identifying wildlife crimes and pursuing offenders in Sri Lanka has faced severe difficulties. The main reason for this situation is that the firearms and equipment predominantly used for wildlife crimes are locally manufactured.

Addressing the media, Mr. Marasinghe stated that none of the firearms or equipment used in such crimes are factory-made products, and most of them are manufactured within the country. He pointed out that monitoring such equipment has become extremely challenging due to the lack of specific identifiable information.

Locally made explosive traps, such as 'Hakkapatas', are also difficult to identify without familiarity with their appearance. However, despite these challenges, wildlife officials continuously conduct raids and take legal action against individuals involved in wildlife crimes.

Recently, officials launched operations over several days in several areas, including Yapahuwa and Udawalawe, with specialized wildlife rangers and field officers in those areas also supporting these enforcement activities. The department states that these operations were planned after considering information on the frequency and nature of wildlife crimes. Intelligence received from various security agencies, as well as a dedicated information network, was also used to investigate incidents of elephant shootings.

Additionally, it is noted that information has been received through personal contacts and other public channels. As pointed out by the Director General of Wildlife, completely eradicating all wildlife crimes at once is impossible. Tracing locally manufactured firearms and identifying those responsible, especially in cases involving the public, continues to be a persistent difficulty.

However, Mr. Marasinghe further stated that information regarding arrests, legal actions taken, and penalties imposed on offenders is regularly shared through the department's Facebook page.