The Department of Wildlife Conservation has initiated legal proceedings against Priyan Pushpakumara, a businessman from Piliyandala, for violating wildlife protection laws by feeding deer inside Horton Plains National Park.
The case stems from a video that Pushpakumara himself shared on social media, depicting him feeding wild deer within the protected zone. The footage quickly went viral, drawing sharp criticism from environmentalists and wildlife conservationists who condemned the act as both irresponsible and ecologically damaging.
Under existing regulations, feeding wildlife within national parks is strictly prohibited, as it disrupts natural behavior, fosters dependency, and poses health risks to animals.
Wildlife officers from Horton Plains submitted a formal report to the Nuwara Eliya Magistrate’s Court on April 22, prompting the magistrate to issue a summons for Pushpakumara to appear in court on June 11, 2025.
The Department of Wildlife Conservation emphasized that such actions not only endanger the animals but also undermine long-standing efforts to preserve Sri Lanka’s fragile ecosystems.
