“Sri Devi is a very loving and affectionate elephant, my favourite in Pinnawela. I was helpless in protecting her and the other elephants being forcibly taken away from
Pinnawela. What cruelty it is to take away their freedom for one’s individual interests,” states Ishini Wickremasinghe, who resigned from the post of Director-general of the Department of National Zoological Gardens, sharing a post on Facebook.
Ms Ishini Wickremesinghe resigned from the post of Director-general to protest against returning illegally captured elephants to the alleged smugglers.
Meanwhile, a letter of demand was served yesterday on the Attorney General’s Department, Cabinet Minister Wildlife, State Minister Wildlife, Ministry Secretaries, Chief Curator Pinnawala, Director General Wildlife and Director-General Zoo over the controversial release of 15 elephants from state custody.
The letter of demand has been submitted by Attorney-at-Law and Notary Public K. Nimmi Sanjeewani on behalf of Centre for Environmental Justice, (Guarantee) Limited, Mr Athragoda Kankanamge Dilena, the Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Justice both of 20A, Kuruppu Road, Colombo 08, Ms Panchali Madurangi Panapitiya of 565/4A, Mihindu Mawatha, Malabe, Ms Maheshi Nanayakkara of No. 5, Jayanthipura Road, Battaramulla and MsWadduwage Visakha Perera Tillekeratne of No.73/12, Kirillapone Avenue, Colombo 05.
