Four Chinese nationals, including a woman, have been arrested by wildlife officers while allegedly collecting insect and reptile species within the Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
The suspects were arrested during a raid conducted based on information received by the Panahaduwa Wildlife Range Office of Udawalawe National Park.
More than 250 specimens belonging to nearly 40 insect and animal species were recovered from the possession of the suspects.
The Department of Wildlife Conservation stated that investigations had revealed that the suspects had visited Sri Lanka on previous occasions as well.
The suspects and the recovered specimens were produced before the Kalawana Magistrate’s Court, which ordered that they be remanded until November 23, 2026.
The Magistrate has also ordered that the living and non-living specimens recovered from the possession of the suspects be handed over to the National Museum today (10) for identification and subsequent release into their natural habitats.
