HC suspends magistrate’s order to release 15 elephants
May 26, 2016 03:48 pm
The Colombo High Court today issued an injunction suspending the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s decision to release 15 elephants to their owners on bonds.
On May 20, the Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya ordered government authorities to release 15 elephants in its custody to their previous owners till August 31 subject to Rs 30 million bonds.
However, the Attorney General filed a revision application with the Colombo High Court challenging the magistrate’s order.
The elephants, taken into custody of the Wildlife Department from individuals without valid permits, were released to take part in the upcoming Kendy Esala Perahera and several other processions based on requests by several elephant owners.
The injunction was issued by Colombo High Court Judge Mahilal Vaidyatilaka, when the revision application was taken up today (26), preventing the magistrate’s order from being implemented till June 06.
The state counsel had stated that the magistrate has no power to issue such an order under the country’s criminal code.
