Five leopards sighted in Hantana

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy Sports correspondent

Five leopards have been sighted in the Hantana area in Kandy by motor racing driver Thusith de Silva who had taken up residence in this area a few years back. De Silva’s house is constructed in the upper part of Hantana mountain close to the communication towers which had come up a few years back.

This is also the highest point in the Kandy city. He said one night he heard a noise close to his house.

He opened the window and saw five full grown leopards in his compound. After sometime they went away. History of leopards in the Hantana area dates back to about eight or nine years when former cricketer Ronnie Gunaratne was the Manager of the Hantana Group in Kandy owned by the Janatha Estates Development Board. While on his night rounds around the Estate, he had often spotted two leopards.