Gun-toting Veddha held

Navaratna Bandara, Mahaweli systems group corr

Four members of the Veddha community from Kotabakiniya, Dambaana had to appear in court for allegedly breaking the law. A Veddha chieftain was among the suspects.

Wildlife Conservation Department officials told the court that Uru Warige Punchi Banda alias Kiriya entered

Maduruoya National Park illegally with a gun on September 15 and Uru Warige Wanniya, his son Uru Warige Muthubanda and relative Uru Warige Gunatilaka who is a teacher, had removed Punchi Banda by force while he was at the Galkada office of the Wildlife Conservation Department after being arrested for the offence. The officials said U W Wanniya, U W Muthubanda and U W Gunatilaka had taken Punchi Banda’s gun by force. The Veddhas denied the charge.

Mahiyanganaya magistrate Indika Ruwan de Silva considering the evidence presented by both parties, granted bail to the four suspects and ordered them to reappear in court on November 29. The suspects were released on Rs 7,500 bail each and a personal bail of Rs100,000.