Sri Lanka Police Chief says over 12,000 arrested for violating environment laws

Sri Lanka's Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mahinda Balasuriya has said that 12,800 persons have been arrested by the police environment protection units located across the country.

Balasuriya has told the media that 840 suspects had also been arrested for putting up unauthorized structures, 720 for illegal felling, and 2,032 for illegal sand mining.

The police have set up 143 environment protection units island wide in every police division to help the Municipal and Urban Councils and the Environment Ministry to arrest individuals who violate environment laws and to combat environment pollution.