Damith Fonseka, son of veteran film actor Gamini Fonseka, and another individual, who were arrested yesterday (29) by Sigiriya wildlife officials, have reportedly been released on bail on an undertaking to appear before the Dambulla Magistrate’s Court today Monday (31).

They were arrested on allegations of digging an agricultural well and felling trees on private land within the Sigiriya Sanctuary without permission from the Department of Wildlife Conservation.The raid was carried out and the suspects arrested by a team of wildlife officials acting on a tip-off.The officials have also taken into custody a backhoe loader, a lorry, a tractor and a quantity of logs that had been felled, which were allegedly used in the unauthorized excavation and tree-felling activities.

The arrested suspects reportedly told wildlife officials that, as the land was privately owned, they were unaware that legal permission was required to carry out development work on the property.Commenting on the incident, S.S. Malinda, Site Protection Officer at the Sigiriya Wildlife Office, said that prior approval from the Department of Wildlife Conservation is mandatory for any excavation, construction or tree-felling carried out even on private land located within the boundaries of a sanctuary.