Govt. to take action against leopard-killers

• Says will conduct special investigation

The Government will carry out an investigation into the cruel killing of a leopard in the Kilinochchi jungle, Parliament was told yesterday.

Leader of the House and Minister Lakshman Kiriella said that the Government would conduct a special investigation into the slaughter of the leopard in Kilinochchi on Thursday.

The Minister gave this assurance in response to a question raised by JVP MPs Bimal Rathnayake and Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa who demanded to know what action the Government would be taking regarding the incident in Kilinochchi, which garnered wide attention on social media.

“We have seen from media videos the brutality of the killing of the wild animal. The criminals should be taken into custody,” MP Rathnayake said.

Due to the absence of the Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka in Parliament, former subject Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera responded that he, too, was shocked by the incident.

“This is an inhumane act. First, I thought it was a news story coming from a foreign country. Sri Lanka is to host the CITES convention (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) next year. This is a country where ‘Dhamma’ prevails. I urge to arrest the perpetrators behind the killing of the leopard. Minister Fonseka and his deputy have high regard for law and order. I believe they will take necessary steps in this regard,” Minister Perera said.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya at this point called on the Leader of the House to refer the issue to the subject Minister. Minister Kiriella, in response, said that the Government would investigate the matter.