The officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Welikada Police Station, Chief Inspector Kamal Rasika Amarasinghe, has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Nuwara Eliya Magistrate’s Court in connection with a case filed by the Department of Wildlife.
He had been charged with entering the Horton Plains National Park without a permit and obstructing the duties of park officials on July 07, 2009.
However, the case was heard without the presence of the Welikada OIC as he had failed to appear before the court when it was taken up for hearing.
The Nuwara Eliya Magistrate has also issued an arrest warrant for the Chief Inspector while the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has been notified to take appropriate action regarding the police officer for absconding.
Meanwhile it has been reported that Welikada OIC Chief Inspector Amarasinghe has obtained leave and already left the country for Singapore.
He had requested for leave and recently visited Singapore, police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said.
