A 15-year old elephant calf, which was kept illegally by Former UPFA MP Sajin De Vass Gunawardena, was taken into custody by the Department of Wildlife Conservation today.

Wildlife and CID officers took custody of the calf at the Hirewatta Buddhist Temple in Ambalangoda. Gunwaradena had produced a mahout to take care of the calf.

Wildlife officers stated that elephant calf was taken into Wildlife custody following a court order. They further said that elephant calf was to be detained at Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home.  

The elephant calf had been under Gunawardena’s possession for nearly 10 years.