Indictment was served to Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera by the Colombo High Court on two counts under the Flora Fauna Act and the Public Properties Act over the alleged possession of an elephant calf without a valid license.

Dhammaloka Thera was released on two sureties of Rs 10 million each. The trial was fixed for August 2 and 3.

Meanwhile, the High Court advised Dhammaloka Thera to refrain from making statements undermining the trial. This direction was given upon a request made by the State Counsel, who said that Dhammaloka Thera was reported to have made such comments during the magisterial inquiry.

The Department of Wildlife Conservation discovered the elephant cub at the Alan Mathiniyaramaya on January 28, 2015. The two-and-a-half-year-old elephant calf was taken into custody by the Department of Wildlife Conservation. The baby elephant was not registered under the name of Chief Incumbent Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera or the temple.

Dhammaloka Thera was arrested on March 9, 2016, and was released ona bail by Fort Magistrate Courts later.