A former Civil Defence officer has been arrested on suspicion of removing the tusk of an elephant found dead without its tusk in the Kumbukwewa area of Kahatagasdigiliya.
The 34-year-old suspect was taken into custody by officers from the Kahatagasdigiliya Wildlife Range Office following investigations into the elephant's death.
During searches conducted at the suspect's residence and cultivation hut, wildlife officers recovered several items, including an elephant deterrent explosive, an explosive device allegedly made using petrol, a homemade firearm, a bag containing gunpowder and related accessories, a curved knife, a metal-cutting hacksaw and several pieces of timber suspected to have been cut from the area where the elephant was found.
Wildlife officers suspect that the recovered hacksaw may have been used to remove the elephant's tusk.
The suspect was produced before the Kahatagasdigiliya Magistrate's Court today (05), where an order was issued to remand him until November 18.
Wildlife authorities are continuing investigations into the incident.
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