Wildlife ranger shot dead

An officer from the Eginiagala office of the Wildlife Conservation Department was shot dead on Wednesday night in the Galoya National Park by suspected poachers. According to a press release by the Police, the 25-year-old officer had been part of a raiding party which was investigating poaching in the National Park.

The initial magistrate’s inquiry into the death was expected to take place yesterday. Four suspected poachers have been taken into custody and a .12 gauge shot gun has been recovered from the crime scene, the Police said. Dangalla Police Station is conducting an investigation into the incident.