SRI LANKA COAST GUARD APPREHENDED TURTLE MEAT WITH TWO PERSONS

Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) personnel apprehended two persons with turtle meat and a fishing boat at Kochchikade, Negombo on 23^rd December 2023.

Based on intelligence, the SLCG personnel combined with the Naval Expeditionary Task Force, apprehended turtle meat hidden inside a fishing boat. During the search, it is found 31.2 Kg of turtle meat with a turtle shell. It suspects that the arrested persons trapped the turtle, slaughtered and transferred ashore by that fishing boat.

Under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance of Sri Lanka, killing, wounding or harming a turtle is prohibited. Furthermore, possession of turtle or sale, as well as taking or destroying turtle eggs is punishable offense.

The arrested persons with apprehended items were handed over to the Wildlife Officer - Gampaha for further investigations.