Visitors, officials clash: Five injured in Wilpattu

Anuradhapura group corr.

Five persons including two wildlife officials were injured and admitted to the Nochchiyagama district hospital following a clash between a group of visitors to the Wilpattu National Park and a group of wildlife officials Monday.

The clash was a sequel to an argument between the visiting group and several guides inside the park at Manawila.

After coming out of the park the two groups had resumed the argument which led to the clash near the park office.

Range officer S.M. Senadheera said four wildlife officials sustained injuries during the clash out of which two were hospitalised.

Following the clash a group of villagers from Kukulkatuwa had arrived at the scene and created a rumpus and police had to be called into diffuse the tension.

Nochchiyagama police investigating the incident has arrested eight members of the visiting group in this connection.

They were due to be produced before the Nochchiyagama Magistrate.