Army spends for Gotabhaya’s baby jumbos!

 Monday, 02 February 2015 

Infantry regiment officers have called for an inquiry into their regimental headquarters in Panagoda having illegally kept two baby elephants owned by former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, using the Army funds and resources for their upkeep, including the use of Army mahaouts to train these jumbos.

On the instructions of Army chief Lt. Gen. Daya Ratnayake, Col. Channa Weerasuriya, commanding officer of the regimental headquarters, had deployed military personnel and spent Army funds in the past two years for their upkeep. However, army regulations and existing laws deem these acts a punishable offence.

It is also a non-bailable offence under the public properties ordinance. The two baby jumbos, said to have been given to Gotabhaya through a presidential letter, were handed over to the infantry regiment, as its Panagoda headquarters has a veterinary surgeon, mahaouts and required facilities at the disposal of the regiment’s official elephant ‘Kandula.’

Gotabhaya returned the two baby elephants to the wildlife department last Saturday, saying he cannot maintain them any longer.

Deputy Wildlife Minister Covers-Up For Gota?

February 1, 2015

Doubts have been raised over certain comments made by Deputy Wildlife Minister Vasantha Senanayakeregarding the two elephant calves that were in possession of former secretary to the ministry of defenceGotabaya Rajapaksa.

During a press briefing on Saturday, Deputy Minister Senanayake dismissed allegations that have been leveled at Gotabaya on illegally holding two baby elephants, claiming he has not engaged in any illegal actions with concern to the elephants. Full Story