Sri Lanka, July 13 -- Three men were fined Rs. 145,000 each, amounting to a total of Rs. 435,000, by the Polonnaruwa Magistrate's Court after pleading guilty to illegally entering the Somawathiya National Park and engaging in hunting activities.

Polonnaruwa Magistrate Shalani M. Gunawardena imposed the fines after the accused, all residents of Meegaswewa in Medirigiriya, admitted to the charges filed against them.

The offences included entering and remaining inside the national park without a valid permit, using an unauthorised footpath within the protected area, possessing a locally manufactured weapon (a machete and an axe) capable of killing wildlife, and being in possession of wild boar meat.

The suspects were arrested during a wil...