Man arrested carrying star tortoises on bus

A person carrying eight star tortoises on an SLTB bus from Kalmunai to Puttalam was arrested today (26) along with six star tortoises, Manampitiya Police say.

Manampitiya Police, conducting investigations regarding the matter, state that the arrested suspect is a 61-year-old resident of the Veppamaduwa, Mannar Road, Puttalam area.

While he was bringing the eight star tortoises inside a cardboard box, people on the bus saw two of the star tortoises walking on the bus in the Welikanda area, and the suspect took steps to throw those two into a mudhole.

Following a person on the bus informing Manampitiya Police regarding this, when the bus was inspected, six more star tortoises were inside the cardboard box, and accordingly, action was taken to arrest the six star tortoises and the suspect, Manampitiya Police Station OIC Chief Inspector P.G.A.C. Ariyaratne stated upon an inquiry made by us.

Manampitiya Police, conducting investigations regarding the matter, say that action will be taken to produce the arrested suspect before the Polonnaruwa Magistrate's Court along with the star tortoises on the 26th.