Three lorries seized with illicit timber

Chamikara Weerasinghe

Officers at Forest Department Matale Range have intensified operations against illicit timber fellers following the arrest of three container-sized lorries with illegally logged timber in four days.

The Forest Officers in Matale arrested seven suspects in connection with transporting illegally sourced timber without permits during the last four days.

The last three suspects, arrested Wednesday with a lorry load of natural timber, were produced before Matale Magistrate Courts yesterday. The suspects were released on cash bail of Rs.100,000 each pending further investigations. Matale Range Additional Forest Officer Duleep Gunaratne said they have produced seven suspects in Courts in connection with transporting illegal timber.

We have seized timber worth of Rs.600,000 within the last four days, Gunaratne said.