26 campers to be sentenced for illegal reserve entry

26 young people who illegally entered and camped in the Pidurutalagala reserve without permission will be sentenced on October 16.

Nuwara Eliya Magistrate Lankangani Prabhuddhika made the decision today, September 25, after the suspects pleaded guilty in court.

The group, which included two women, are aged between 25 and 30 and are from various parts of the country, including Galle, Panadura, and Kurunegala.

Police say the group had met through Facebook.

They were arrested by officers from the Nuwara Eliya Divisional Forest Office on September 7 following a raid on their campsite.

They had also lit campfires.