Zoological Gardens Dept’s DG Shermila temporarily withdraws from duties

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – The Director-General of the Department of National Zoological Gardens, Shermila Rajapakshe has temporarily withdrawn from duties, calling for a proper investigation into the employees at the Dehiwala Zoo who had launched a trade union action and engaged in sabotaging activities that threatened the lives of the animals at the premise.

She mentioned in this in a letter directed to secretaries to the President, the Ministry of Wildlife & Forest Conservation and State Ministry of Wildlife Conservation Protection Programmes including Electric Fence and Ditch Construction and Re-Forestation and Wildlife Resources Development.

Calling for an investigation to be conducted within a period of 14 days and to make the environment is conducive to resume duties, Rajapakshe said she would resign from her position otherwise.

Rajapakshe deplored the trade union action launched by a group of employees at the Dehiwala Zoo, which she called “arbitrary and destructive.”