News
Case against suspected bio-pirates continues
Nuwara Eliya Magistrate Pamoda Jayasekara ordered that the case against the three Russian suspects responsible for the country’s largest ever bio-piracy be called on October 10, 2020.
The three Russians were arrested while trying to steal a large number of plant species removed from the Horton Plains National Park in February.
Range Officer at Giritale Training Unit, A P K Jayawardane was requested by court to prepare a report on the four mobiles, pendrive and soil types which were in possession of the Russians.
Mr Jayasekara also ordered that the four mobile phones and one pendrive be sent to the University of Colombo to obtain a report, and the soil samples collected by the suspects be sent to the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau.
Along with Mr Jayawardane, Warden of the National Forest Park, P K P Pradeep Kumara, and Deputy Warden T P Jayawardena, were present. Forest Site Assistant P M P Panawala and Forest Officer K P P Priyadarshana were present on behalf of the complainant. Lawyer Triny Gordon appeared on behalf of the foreign suspects, and Lawyer Sajeewa Kaushalya appeared on behalf of the owner of the vehicle which had been hired for the bio-piracy.
The Sunday Times previously reported that the Russians had attempted to collect animal samples in the rain forests of the upcountry Horton Plains. The suspects had arrived in early February and obtained international driving licences to drive private vehicles and visit distant forest areas for collecting biological species of rare distinction.