A court has fined a youth named Lakshan Madusankha, who works at an animal rescue service, Rs. 50,000 for providing treatment to a python that had suffered spinal cord damage after being caught in a backhoe.
He was fined this amount for keeping a python without a license. The fine was imposed after he admitted the charge before the court when the case was heard yesterday.
During the hearing, wildlife officials had pointed out to the court that the python is a ‘strictly protected’ species. Taking those facts into account, the court had imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000. However, Lakshan Madushanka emphasizes that according to the Wildlife Ordinance, the python is a ‘protected’ species and not a ‘strictly protected’ species.
He says that he had to pay a high fine due to the incorrect classification presented by the officials. Lakshan Madushanka has told the media that the officials complied with the law and that he has no problem with it.
Lakshan Madushanka is also the owner of the YouTube channel ”Minisa”.