100 Swallows' nests seized at Hambantota Port; Chinese woman nabbed

Wildlife officers arrested a Chinese woman and seized over 100 swallows' nests during a raid inside the premises of the Hambantota port today. The swallow is a protected bird species and it is illegal to remove their nests from their natural habitat. 

The raid had been conducted by wildlife officers from the Yala and Hambantota offices based on a tip-off. During the raid, they found the stock of swallows' nests as well as a dish allegedly made from these nests which was stored inside a refrigerator on the premises of the Hambantota port. 

Wildlife officers say an organized racket is currently ongoing where the nests are being taken and sold for vast sums of money. The racket is so extensive that it has disrupted the breeding process of the birds, they added. 

Story and Pix by Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi in Hambantota

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