Gem businessman arrested for operating illicit abattoir

A gem businessman who operated an illegal slaughterhouse where buffaloes were being killed for meat was arrested on Wednesday (26) by the Walana Central Anti-Corruption Task Force in Panadura subsequent to raiding the slaughterhouse which had been openly run, a short distance away in the vicinity of the Welipanna police. The businessman had tried his best to bribe the officers who carried out the raid, with Rs.300,000 and escape Police custody. With the officers of the Central Anti-Corruption Force rejecting the bribe, ASP K.A. Udayakumara and CI Indika Weerasinghe had been pressured by various people to release this millionaire gem businessman.

These officials have informed their superiors regarding this and even kept notes about it.

Officers had informed higher officials that among those who tried to use their influence was a co-ordinating secretary of a former President and a person who posed as a district organizer of Trincomalee. The Central Anti-Corruption Task Force had received information that this slaughterhouse has been in operation for a long time and that it had been run by this gem businessman. According to information received by CI Indika Weerasinghe this illegal slaughterhouse was raided after checking the details.

It has been found that even though the slaughtering of cows was done openly at this place, no law enforcement agency had acted in this regard. It had been found that buffaloes brought from different parts of the country were slaughtered at this place and even stolen cattle are among them. It has been found further that at least 15 heads of cattle are killed here every day.

During this raid, a stock of sets of horns of many killed buffaloes were also found. The place had been raided day before yesterday (26) by a team of officers including Sub-Inspector Ratnayake of the Central Anti-Corruption Task Force. Three suspects were arrested during the raid. It had even been possible to save the lives of 13 buffaloes that had been brought to be killed here.

During the investigation, it was found that the buffaloes had been stolen and brought to this place to be killed from Thanamalwila, Hungama and Lunugamwehera. Investigations have also revealed that these cattle were easily transported by lorries along the highway. The connection of a cattle smuggler who is a resident of Hakmana has also been revealed.