One person was injured and hospitalised following a shootout between suspected deer hunters and Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel within the Udawalawe national park, the Police Spokesman said.
SP Ruwan Gunasekara said that two suspects who were engaging in killing and slaughtering deer at the reserve had opened fire at STF personnel who had attempted to apprehend the two men.
The STF personnel had returned fire resulting in injuries to one of the suspects, who was admitted to the Udawalawa Hospital and later transferred to the Karapitiya Hospital for further treatment.
It has been uncovered that the wounded suspect is a former member of the Army Special Forces (SF) who has murder charges filed against him, the spokesman said.
The other suspect, several deer carcasses, one T-56 assault rifle and 27 bullets were also taken into custody.
He said that an investigation has been launched on the instruction of IGP Pujith Jayasundara.
