Target: Sanjay Rajaratnam, Attorney General of Sri Lanka
Goal: Seek the toughest lawful charges and sentencing, lifetime wildlife-possession ban, and full restitution after authorities seized wild animal meat, live tortoises, and tortoise eggs tied to alleged trafficking.
Reports describe a special raid in Sri Lanka that uncovered a cache of sambar deer meat, armadillo meat, six black tortoises, fourteen tortoise eggs, and a necklace made of ivory. Officials arrested a 50-year-old prominent religious custodian after wildlife officers said they found the stock at his residence. A magistrate remanded the suspect and directed forensic testing of the seized meat and the alleged ivory. The scene, as reported, points to systematic poaching pressure and illicit possession of protected wildlife.
Wildlife officers further stated in court that the suspect had been involved in an illegal meat trade for some time, according to their ongoing investigation. Authorities reportedly received information about secret storage and then executed the raid. Subsequent accounts allege that individuals tried to pressure officers to release the suspect and the confiscated items. Such interference, if proven, deepens concern about organized exploitation that harms threatened species and the rule of law.
Sri Lanka’s biodiversity is priceless. Trafficking and illegal killing destabilize ecosystems and fuel cruelty. This petition urges swift, high-impact prosecution using all applicable wildlife and anti-trafficking statutes, a permanent prohibition on keeping or trading protected species, and court-ordered restitution for rescue, care, and enforcement costs. Justice should match the damage allegedly done to animals and to public trust.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Attorney General Rajaratnam,
We respectfully urge your office to pursue the strongest appropriate charges and sentencing in the reported wildlife-crime case arising from the recent raid in Anuradhapura. Public accounts indicate wildlife officers seized multiple types of wild animal meat, six black tortoises, and fourteen tortoise eggs, along with an item made of ivory. A court remanded the suspect and directed forensic testing. These details, if proven, reflect serious harm to protected species.
Officials also stated in court that the suspect had been involved in illegal meat trading for some time, and further reports allege attempts to pressure officers to release the suspect and the seized items. Such conduct, if established, magnifies the threat to enforcement and emboldens future offenders. The public relies on visible, decisive action when protected wildlife are apparently targeted for commercial gain.
We therefore ask that you seek maximum lawful penalties upon conviction, a lifetime ban on possession or control of wildlife or wildlife products, strict probation terms, and restitution covering rescue, veterinary, storage, and investigative costs. Robust prosecution will protect animals, support front-line officers, and send a clear message that trafficking and cruelty will not be tolerated in Sri Lanka.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: shankar s.
