Landmark conviction exposes Sri Lanka’s deep-rooted illegal elephant trade

Landmark conviction exposes Sri Lanka’s deep-rooted illegal elephant trade

COLOMBO — In a landmark ruling hailed as a major victory for Sri Lanka’s wildlife conservation, the Colombo High Court in September convicted a person for the illegal possession of a wild-caught elephant and sentenced him to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of 20.6 million rupees (nearly US$70,000). A three-member bench after a trial at bar, a specialized court proceeding where a case is heard by three judges instead of one, …