The Colombo High Court Sampath Wijeratne on Friday acquitted Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera after trial in a case filed against him allegedly for possessing a calf elephant without a valid license.
Court in its Order stated that the prosecution had failed to prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt. There was no credible evidence to prove that the calf elephant had been in the custody of Dhammaloka Thera.
In this case, the Attorney General (AG) had indicted Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera on two counts under Section 22 (12) of the Fauna and Flora Protection (Amendment) Act, No.22 of 2009 and Section 5(3) (a) of the Public Property Act.