Tusker killing:

Ministry offers Rs 200,000 reward for infow

Priyanka Kurugala

The Agrarian Services and Wildlife Ministry is offering a Rs 200,000 reward to any person providing information leading to the arrest of the person or groups of persons responsible for the death of the Mahakanadarawa tusker.

Agrarian Services and Wildlife Deputy Minister S M Chandrasena said he would not allow the destruction of the country's wildlife.

The deputy minister said around 13 percent of the country's land belongs to the Wildlife Department.

He said his ministry is taking great care to to conserve wildlife for the future generation.

Chandrasena was addressing a ceremony to mark the assuming of duties of the newly appointed Wildlife Director General H D Ratnayake at the Wildlife Department, Battaramulla, Jayanthipura.

The deputy minister said Sri Lanka is a country blessed with a rich bio- diversity.

"The Agrarian Services and Wildlife Ministry will do its utmost to preserve its uniqueness," he said.