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FAUNA AND FLORA PROTECTION |
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AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE FAUNA AND FLORA OF CEYLON.
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Ordinance Nos, |
2 of 1937 |
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31 of 1942 |
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12 of 1944 |
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12 of 1945 |
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[1st March
, 1938 ]
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Short title.
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1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance.
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NATIONAL RESERVES AND SANCTUARIES |
Constitution of National Reserves, Strict Natural Reserves, National Parks, Intermediate Zones, and Sanctuaries.
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2.
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(1) The Minister[3] may by Order[3] published in the Gazette declare that any specified area of Crown land shall for the purposes of this Ordinance be a National Reserve and may by that Order[3] or by any Order[3] subsequently published in the Gazette declare that the whole or any specified part of any such National Reserve shall be-
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(a) a Strict Natural Reserve; or
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(c) an Intermediate Zone.
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(2) The Minister[3] may by Order[3] published in the Gazette declare that any specified area of land within Ceylon (other than land declared to be a National Reserve) shall be a Sanctuary for the purposes of this Ordinance.
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(3) An area declared to be a Sanctuary may include both Crown land and land other than Crown land.
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(4) The Minister[3] may by Order[3] published in the Gazette declare that from a specified date-
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(a) the limits of any Nature Reserve, Strict Natural Reserve, National Park, Intermediate Zone shall be altered or varied ;
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(b) any National Reserve or part thereof shall cease to be a National Reserve;
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(c) any Sanctuary or part thereof shall cease to be a Sanctuary ;
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(d) that a National Reserve of one class shall be a National Reserve of another class.
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Essential features of Strict Natural Reserves.
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3.
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(1) Save as hereinafter provided-
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(a) no person shall be entitled to enter any Strict Natural Reserve or in any way to disturb the fauna and flora therein;
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National Parks.
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(b) no person shall be entitled to enter any National Park except for the purpose of observing the fauna and flora therein;
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Strict Natural Reserves and National Parks.
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(c) no animal shall be hunted, killed or taken and no plant shall be damaged, collected, or destroyed, in a Strict Natural Reserve, or in a National Park;
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Sanctuarries.
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(d) no person shall hunt, shoot, kill or take any wild animal, in any Sanctuary.
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Intermediate Zones.
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(2) Any person shall be entitled, subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed, to enter any Intermediate Zone and to hunt, shoot, kill or take any wild animal therein.
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Restriction of entry into Strict Natural Reserves.
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4.
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(1) No person other than the Director shall enter or remain within any Strict Natural Reserve except-
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(a) for the purpose of discharging any official duty on the instructions or with the written permission of the Warden; or
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(b) under the authority and in accordance with the conditions of a written permit from the Warden.
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(2) A permit under subsection (1) (b) shall be issued only for the purpose of authorizing scientific research.
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Restriction of entry into National Parks.
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5.
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(1) No person shall enter or remain within any National Park except under the authority and in accordance with the conditions of a permit issued by the prescribed officer on payment of the prescribed fee.
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(2) A permit under subsection (1) shall be issued only for the purpose of enabling the permit-holder to study or observe the fauna and flora in a National Park.
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(3) If no fee is prescribed for the issue of a permit under subsection (1), such permit shall be issued free of charge.
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Acts prohibited in Strict Natural Reserves and National Parks
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6.
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(1) No person shall in a Strict Natural Reserve, or in a National Park-
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(a) hunt, shoot, kill, wound or take any wild animal; or
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(b) take or destroy any egg of any bird or reptile, or any nest of any bird ; or
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(c) fire any gun or do any other act which disturbs or is likely to disturb any wild animal or do any act which interferes or is likely to interfere with the breeding place of any such animal; or
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(d) fell, girdle, lop, tap, burn or in any way damage or destroy any plant, or take, collect, or remove any plant therefrom; or
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(e) clear or break up any land for cultivation, mining or for any other purpose; or
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(f) kindle or carry any fire; or
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(g) possess or use any trap or any explosive or poisonous substance capable of being used for the purpose of injuring or destroying any animal or plant; or
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(2) No person shall introduce any animal into any Strict Natural Reserve, or National Park, or tether, liberate or release any animal therein.
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Provided, however, that the Warden or the prescribed officer may, when he issues a permit under section 4 or section 5 to any person, authorize that person by such permit to introduce into any Strict Natural Reserve or National Park, and to tether therein, any animal which in the opinion of the Warden or of such officer, as the case may be, is required by that person solely for the purpose of carrying that person or his goods or of drawing any vehicle.
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Acts regulated in intermediate Zones and Sanctuaries.
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7.
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(1) No person shall, except in accordance with regulations-
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(a) enter, or remain in, any Intermediate Zone;or
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(b) in any Intermediate Zone or Sanctuary-
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(i) fire any gun, or do any other act which disturbs or is likely to disturb any wild animal or do any act which interferes or is likely to interfere with the breeding place of any such animal; or
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(ii) hunt, shoot, kill, or take any wild animal; or
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(iii) take or destroy any egg of any bird or reptile or any nest of any bird; or
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(c) in any Intermediate Zone –
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(i) fell, girdle, lop, tap, burn or in any way damage or destroy any plant, or take, collect, or remove any plant therefrom; or
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(ii) clear or break up any land for cultivation, mining or for any other purpose; or
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(iii) kindle or carry any fire; or
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(iv) possess or use any trap or any explosive or poisonous substance capable of being used for the purpose of injuring or destroying any animal or plant; or
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(2) No person shall, except in accordance with regulations, introduce any animal into any Intermediate Zone or tether, liberate or release any animal therein.
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Acts prohibited in vicinity of National Reserve.
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8. No person shall, from any road or land adjoining a Strict Natural Reserve, National Park or Intermediate Zone, hunt, shoot, kill or take any wild animal in such reserve, park, corridor or zone.
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Special regulations for Part I.
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9. Regulations may be made-
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(a) prescribing the conditions and restrictions subject to which persons may be permitted to enter any Intermediate Zone or to hunt, shoot, kill or take any wild animal therein;
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(b) prescribing the circumstances and cases in which and the conditions and restrictions subject to which wild animals may be hunted, shot, killed or taken in a Sanctuary;
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(c) prescribing the conditions to be attached to any permit issued for the purposes of this Part of this Ordinance and the fees to be paid for the issue of such permits ;
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(d) for the purpose of extending, with such modification as may be necessary, all or any of the provisions of Part II or of Part III of this Ordinance to any Intermediate Zone or Sanctuary;
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(e) for the purpose of extending, with such modification as may be necessary, all or any of the provisions of this Part of this Ordinance to any specified insect;
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(f) declaring that all or any of the provisions of this Part of this Ordinance shall not apply to any specified species of animal in any specified area.
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Offences and penalties under Part I.
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10. Any person who acts in contravention of-
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(a) any provision of this Part of this Ordinance ; or
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(b) any regulation made under section 9 for any purpose set out in that section; or
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(c) any provision of Part II or Part III of this Ordinance which has by regulation been extended, with or without modification, to any Intermediate Zone or Sanctuary; or
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(d) any provision of this Part of this Ordinance which has by regulation been extended, with or without modification, to any specified insect,
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shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred rupees or to imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.
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Interpretation of Part I.
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11. In this Part of this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires-
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” animal” means any vertebrate or invertebrate animal and includes a bird, fish, or reptile ;
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” domestic animal ” means
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(a) any head of cattle, or any sheep, goat, horse, ass, mule, dog, or cat;
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(b) any domestic fowl or other bird commonly reared by man as poultry; and
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(c) when domesticated by man, any elephant, buffalo, pig, deer, hare, rabbit, peacock, parrot, pigeon, or other animal;
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“plant” means any member of the vegetable kingdom and includes the seed or any other part of any plant;
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” wild animal ” means any animal which is not a domestic animal.
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TUSKERS, ELEPHANTS, BUFFALOES, DEER AND FOWL |
Protection of tuskers, elephants, buffaloes, deer and fowl in areas outside National Reserves and Sanctuaries.
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12.
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(1) Save as is hereinafter provided, no person shall, in any area outside a National Reserve or a Sanctuary-
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(a) shoot or kill, any tusker ; or
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(b) during the close season, hunt, shoot, kill, or take any deer or fowl; or
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(c) without a licence in that behalf from the Warden-
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(i) hunt or take any tusker, or ;
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hunt, shoot, kill or take any elephant or buffalo, or
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(iii) at any time other than during the close season hunt, shoot, kill or take any deer or fowl.
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(2) A person permanently settled in a village area may within that area and at any time other than during the close season shoot or kill any deer without a licence for the purpose of providing food for consumption by himself or by any member of his family.
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In this subsection, ” village area” means an area declared by the Minister[1] to be a village area by notification in the Gazette.
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(3) Every licence under subsection (1) shall be issued in the prescribed form on payment of the prescribed fee and shall continue in force for such period and within such limits and be subject to such conditions as the Director may consider necessary or expedient to insert therein.
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Declaration of areas in which damage by tusker, elephant, buffalo or deer is apprehended.
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13.
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(1) Whenever it appears to the Warden that in any area outside a National Reserve damage to any person or to any person, or to any corp, plantation or other property is likely to be caused by any tusker, elephant, buffalo or deer he may by notices affixed in conspicuous places within that area declare that area to be one within which damage by tusker, elephant buffalo or deer is apprehended and may issue licences subject to such conditions as he may deem necessary or expedient either free or on payment of the prescribed fee, or of such fee not exceeding the prescribed fee, as he may consider adequate, authorizing the licensee to hunt, shoot, kill or take tuskers, elephant buffalo or deer as in the case may be, within that area while the declaration is in force.
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Provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be deemed to require any person residing or cultivating land in that area to obtain a licence to hunt, shoot, kill, or take tuskers, elephants, buffaloes, or deer, as the case may be, while the declaration is in force.
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(2) Every declaration under subsection (1) shall be forthwith reported by the Warden to the Minister[1] and shall continue in force for a period of two months from the date of such declaration.
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(3) The Minister[1] may by notification in the Gazette extend or restrict the period for which such declaration shall continue in force, or may otherwise vary or revoke such declaration, but without prejudice to anything done or suffered thereunder prior to the publication of such notification.
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Killing or taking of tusker, elephants, buffaloes, deer and fowl without licence in prescribed cases.
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(1) It shall be lawful for any person without a licence to shoot, kill or take any tusker, elephant, buffalo, deer or fowl which is found trespassing or attempting to trespass in or upon any cultivated land outside a National Reserve.
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(2) The owner or person in charge of any cultivated land outside a National Reserve who has been unable to shoot or kill any tusker or elephant in. the exercise of the rights conferred by subsection (1) may, after reporting the facts of the case to any police officer or to any other prescribed officer, follow or pursue such tusker or elephant to any place (not being a place within a National Reserve) and there shoot or kill such tusker or elephant.
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The Minister[1] may at any time by Order[1] published in the Gazette suspend the operation of this subsection for any period either throughout Ceylon or in any specified part of Ceylon.
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(3) If the Warden is satisfied that any tusker or elephant found trespassing or attempting to trespass in or upon any cultivated land has not been shot, killed or taken in the exercise of the rights conferred by subsection (1), he may, on payment of the prescribed fee, issue to any person a special licence in the prescribed form containing such conditions as he may deem necessary or expedient to insert therein and authorizing that person to follow or pursue such tusker or elephant to any place (not being a place within a National Reserve) and there to shoot or kill such tusker or elephant.
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(4) It shall be lawful for the owner or person in charge of any cultivated land at any time to set, lay or spread any trap, snare, net or pitfall in or upon that land for the purpose of killing or taking any deer or fowl which trespasses or attempts to trespass thereon.
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(5) Save as is provided in subsection (4), no person shall set, lay or spread any trap, snare, net or pitfall for the purposes of taking any deer or fowl.
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Right to kill or take wild buffalo which joins a herd of domestic buffaloes.
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15. 15. It shall be lawful for any person without a licence to shoot, kill or take in any area outside a National Reserve any male buffalo which joins and accompanies a herd of domestic buffaloes.
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Killing or taking of tuskers, &c, to be reported forthwith.
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16. Any person who in the exercise of any right conferred by section 12, or section 13, or section 14, or section 15, kills or takes any tusker, elephant, buffalo, deer or fowl, shall forthwith report such killing or taking to any police officer entitled to officiate in the area within which such killing or capture took place or to any prescribed officer.
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Property in elephants, tuskers, & c or killed or taken under Part II.
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17.
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(1) Any elephant duly killed or taken by any person under the authority of any licence issued under this Part of this Ordinance, shall be the property of that person, unless otherwise provided in the conditions attached to the licence.
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(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1), every elephant which is killed or captured shall be the property of the Crown,
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(3) Any buffalo, deer, or fowl duly killed or taken by any person in accordance with the provisions of this Part of this Ordinance shall be the property of that person, unless otherwise provided in the conditions attached to the licence, where any such buffalo, deer or fowl was killed or taken under the authority of a licence.
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Warden authorized to dispose of tusks and carcases of dead tusker and elephants.
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18. Subject to such restrictions or conditions as may be prescribed, the Warden may, by sale or otherwise, dispose of
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the carcase, or any part of the carcase, of any dead elephant which is the property of the Crown.
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(b) the tusks or the carcase or any part of the carcase of any dead tusker.
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Royalties payable on export of tuskers and elephants.
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19.
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(1) A royalty according to such rates as may, from time to time, be prescribed shall be levied as export duty by the officers of customs at the port of shipment in respect of every tusker or elephant, whether wild or tame, exported from Ceylon to any place outside Ceylon.
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(2) No tusker or elephant, whether wild or tame, shall be exported from Ceylon to any place outside Ceylon except under the authority of a special permit issued by the Warden.
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(3) This section shall have effect as if it formed part of the Customs Ordinance and the provisions of that Ordinance shall apply accordingly.
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Offences- Elephants.
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20. Any person who-
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(a) in contravention of this Part of this Ordinance or contrary to the tenor of any licence issued to him thereunder, hunts, shoots, kills, takes, follows, or pursues any tusker ; or
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(b) exports any tusker, whether wild or tame, from Ceylon except under the authority of a special permit issued under section 19, or in any way evades payment of the royalty payable on such export,
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shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding two thousand rupees or to imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years or to both such fine and imprisonment; and where any person who is convicted of an offence mentioned in paragraph (a) of this section in respect of the killing or taking of any elephant is found by the court to be in possession of that elephant or its car case or tusks, the court may make order directing such elephant, car case, or tusks to be delivered to the possession or custody of any officer of Government to be held by that officer for and on behalf of the Crown.
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Offences- elephants.
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21. Any person who-
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(a) in contravention of this Part of this Ordinance or contrary to the tenor of any licence issued to him thereunder, hunts, shoots, kills, takes, follows or pursues any elephant; or
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(b) exports any elephant, whether wild or tame, from Ceylon except under the authority of a special permit issued under section 19, or in any way evades payment of the royalty prescribed in respect of the export of any elephant from Ceylon,
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Offences Buffaloes, deer, or fowl.
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22. Any person who-
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(1) in contravention of this Part of this Ordinance or contrary to the tenor of any licence issued to him thereunder, hunts, shoots, kills, or takes any buffalo, deer, or fowl; or
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(2) in contravention of this Part of this Ordinance-
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(a) sets, lays, or spreads any snare, net, or pitfall for the purpose of killing or taking any deer or fowl; or
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(b) during the close season, hunts, shoots, kills or takes any deer or fowl; or
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(3) during the close season takes or removes the eggs of any fowl,
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Penalty for unlawful possession of tusker or elephant.
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23.
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(1) Any person who is in unlawful possession of a tusker or an elephant shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred rupees or to imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six year or to both such fine and imprisonment; and the court may on the conviction of any such person make order for the disposal of the elephant in respect of which the offence was committed, having regard to the rights of any other person who may appear to the court to be lawfully entitled to the possession of such tusker or elephant-
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(2) A person who is found in possession of an elephant shall be deemed to be in unlawful possession of that tusker or elephant unless-
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(a) he is the captor of that elephant under the authority of a licence issued under this Ordinance or under any written law repealed by Ordinance No. 2 of 1937; or
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(b) he is the successor in title to such captor; or
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(c) he is in possession on behalf of such captor or his successor in title.
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Regulations for licensing of persons in possession of tuskers or elephants.
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24. Regulations may be made-
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(a) requiring persons in possession, of tuskers or elephants to cause themselves annually to be licensed as being in possession thereof ;
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(b) specifying the officers to whom applications for such licences shall be made ;
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(c) specifying the particulars to be set out in any such application or licence, whether by reference to identification marks or otherwise, of the tusker or elephant to which the application or licence relates ; and
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(d) providing for the cancellation of any such licence and the issue of a new licence in the event of any sale or transfer of or other succession in title to any tusker or elephant in respect of which such licence has been issued.
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Power of Director, & c, to detain tusker or elephant on suspicion.
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25.
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(1) Where it appears to the warden or to any police officer or other prescribed officer that any person is in unlawful possession of any tusker or elephant, it shall be lawful for the warden or such police or other prescribed officer to seize and detain such tusker or elephant and to apply to the Magistrate having jurisdiction over the place where the animal was seized to make order for the disposal of such tusker or elephant and the Magistrate to whom such application is made may, after such inquiry as he may deem necessary, make such order for the disposal of the tusker or elephant as the justice of the case may require.
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(2) An order made under this section shall not affect the liability of any person to be prosecuted for any offence committed in respect of the tusker or elephant, to which the order relates.
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Penalty for unlawful possession of fresh meat, &c, of deer and fowl.
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26.
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(1) Any person who is in unlawful possession of-
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(a) the fresh meat or flesh of any deer or fowl; or
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(b) the fresh hide or horn of any deer ; or
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(c) the freshly taken skin, feathers or eggs of any fowl,
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shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty rupees or to imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months or to both such fine and imprisonment.
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(2) A person who is found in possession of
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(a) the fresh meat or flesh of any deer or fowl; or
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(b) the fresh hide or horn of any deer ; or
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(c) the freshly taken skin, feathers or eggs of any fowl,
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shall be deemed to be in unlawful possession thereof unless such meat, flesh, hide, horn, skin, feathers or eggs, as the case may be, was or were part of or taken or obtained from any deer or fowl lawfully killed or taken in accordance with the provisions of this Part of this Ordinance.
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Special regulations for Part II.
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27. Regulations may be made prescribing the circumstances in which and the conditions subject to which the Warden may waive or reduce the fee prescribed for the issue of any licence under this Part of this Ordinance.
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Interpretation Part II.
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28. In this Part of this Ordinance, unless otherwise expressly provided or unless the of context otherwise requires-
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” buffalo ” means a wild buffalo ;
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” deer” means any of the following species of deer:-
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(a) Sambur (Rusa unicolor unicolor),
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(b) Spotted deer (Axis axis Ceyionensis
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(c) Red or barking deer (Muntiacus malabaricus),
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(d) Mouse deer (Tragalus meminna);
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“elephant” means a wild elephant, other than a tusker;
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” fowl” means any of the following species of fowl or partridge;-
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(a) Pea fowl (pavo cristalus),
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(b) Ceylon spur fowl (Galloperdix bisalcarata),
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(c) Grey partridge (Francolinus pondicerianus),
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(d) Painted partridge (Francolinus pieIus),
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” tusker ” means a wild elephant having a tusk or tusks.
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Part II not to apply to elephant ,& c., sized at kraals.
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29. The foregoing provisions of this Part of this Ordinance shall have no application to the hunting, killing, taking, pursuit, or possession of-
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(a) any tusker or elephant seized or taken at any elephant kraal held under the Elephant Kraal Ordinance, or
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(b) any buffalo seized or taken at any buffalo kraal held in such manner and circumstances and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed.
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BIRDS, BEASTS, AND REPTILES |
Offences relating to birds, beast, and reptiles included in schedule I.
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30.
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(1) Any person who in any area outside a National Reserve or a Sanctuary-
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(a) knowingly kills, wounds or takes any bird, beast, or reptile included for the time being in Schedule I ; or
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(b) takes or destroys the eggs or nest of any such bird or reptile ; or
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(c) uses any boat or any lime, snare, net, trap or other instrument for the purpose of killing or taking any such bird, beast, or reptile; or
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(d) has in his possession or under his control any bird recently killed or taken, or the skin of any bird recently killed or taken, or the feathers of any bird recently killed or taken or the recently taken eggs of any bird ; or
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(e) exposes or offers for sale any bird, beast or reptile or any part of any bird beast or reptile,
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shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty rupees or to imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months or to both such fine and imprisonment;
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Provided that no person shall be convicted under this section of taking any bird or beast or having any bird or beast in his possession or under his control if the court is satisfied that the bird or beast was taken bona fide for the purpose of being kept alive or reared in capacity.
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(2) A person shall not be guilty of an offence under this section if the act which constitutes such offence has been done in the circumstances and subject to the conditions under which such act is authorized or permitted by any regulation made under section 32.
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Offences relating to bird and beast included in Schedule II
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31.
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(1) Any person who in any area outside a National Reserve or Sanctuary during the close season-
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(a) knowingly kills, wounds or takes any bird or beast included for the time being in Schedules II; or
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(b) takes or destroys the eggs or nest of any such bird ; or
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(c) uses any boat or any lime, snare, net, trap or other instrument for the purpose of killing or taking any such bird or beast; or
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(d) has in his possession or under his control any such bird or beast recently killed or taken or the skin of any such bird or beast recently killed or taken, or the recently taken eggs of any such bird ; or
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(e) exposes or offers for sale any such bird or beast or any part of any such bird or beast; or
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(f) purchases the feathers of any such bird for the purpose of tanning or preparing such feather for the use or wear, or purchase the skin of any such beast for the purpose of preparing or tanning such skin for use,
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shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding ten rupees or to imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two weeks or to both such fine and imprisonment:
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(2) A person shall not be guilty of an offence under this section if the act which constitutes such offence has been done in the circumstances and subject to the conditions under which such act is authorized or permitted by any regulation made under section 32.
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Sections 30 and 31 inapplicable in prescribed cases.
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32. The Minister[1] may by regulation prescribe the circumstances in which and the conditions subject to which any person may be authorized or permitted to do any act which is penalized by section 30 or section 31.
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Power to ascertain
name and address of an offender against Part III.
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33. Where any person is found offending against this Part of this Ordinance, it shall be lawful for any other person to require the person offending to state his name and place of abode, and in case the person so offending after being so required refuses to state his correct name or place of abode or states a name or place of abode which is incorrect, he shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty rupees.
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Alteration of Schedules I, II.
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34. The Minister[1] may by regulation add to, rescind, vary, or amend any of the provisions of Schedules I, II.
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Proof of species of bird, beast, or reptile.
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35. A certificate purporting to be signed by the Director of Museum to the effect that any bird, beast, or reptile or part of any bird, beast, or reptile forwarded to him for examination and report is a bird, beast, or reptile or a part of a bird, beast, or reptile of a species for the time being included in Schedule I, Schedule II, Schedule III shall, on production in any court of law, be sufficient evidence of the facts stated in such certificate until the contrary is proved.
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Temporary prohibition against killing or taking of birds in specified areas.
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36. The Minister[1] may by notification in the Gazette declare that for a specified period not exceeding three months reckoned from the date of the publication of the notification no person shall shoot, kill, or take any bird of any species in any area outside a National Reserve or a Sanctuary mentioned in the notification ; and any person who in any such area and during such specified period shoots, kills, or takes any bird, save on any cultivated land shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five rupees or to imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one month or to both such fine and imprisonment.
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Prohibition of import of non-indigenous birds, beasts, and reptiles without permits.
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37.
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(1) No person shall import into Ceylon any living bird, beast, or reptile of a species which is not indigenous to Ceylon, or the eggs of any such bird or reptile, except upon a permit in the prescribed form obtained from the prescribed officer on payment of the prescribed fee.
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(2) This section shall have effect as if it formed part of the Customs Ordinance and the provisions of that Ordinance shall apply accordingly.
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(3) In any case of doubt or dispute a certificate purporting to be signed by the Director of Museums to the effect that any bird, beast or reptile belongs to a species which is not indigenous to Ceylon or that any species of any bird, beast, or reptile is a species not indigenous to Ceylon, or that any egg of any bird or reptile is the egg of a bird or reptile of a species which is not indigenous to Ceylon shall for all purposes be final and conclusive as to the facts stated therein.
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(4) In this section the expression “bird, beast, or reptile” does not include a domestic animal as defined in section 11.
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Regulations relating to non-indigenous birds, beasts,and reptiles.
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38. Regulations may be made-
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(a) requiring any person who imports any bird, beast or reptile on a permit issued under section 37 to produce a certificate from an approved authority that such bird, beast, or reptile is free from disease or infection;
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(b) prohibiting any bird, beast, or reptile imported on a permit issued under section 37 from being liberated or released in any pan of Ceylon, or prescribing any area or areas within which any such bird, beast, or reptile may be liberated or released ;
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(c) exempting any specified species of bird, beast, or reptile from the operation of section 37 or of any regulation made under this section.
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Penalties for unlawful import or release of nop-indigenous birds, beasts, and reptiles.
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39.
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(1) Any person who-
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(a) imports into Ceylon any bird, beast, or reptile in contravention of the provisions of section 37 or of any regulation made under section 38; or
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(b) contravenes any regulation made under section 38,
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shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand rupees or to imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.
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(2) Any person who liberates or releases any bird, beast, or reptile which has been imported into Ceylon in contravention of the provisions of section 37 shall be guilty of an offence and shall, in addition to any punishment to which he may be liable under subsection (1). be liable on conviction to a fine of five hundred rupees in respect of each bird, beast, or reptile so liberated or released.
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Prohibition of export of birds, beasts, and reptiles without a permit.
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40.
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(1) No person shall export from Ceylon
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(a) any bird, beast or reptile, whether dead or alive ; or
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(b) the eggs, feathers, or plumage of any bird, the horns or skin of any beast, or the eggs or skin of any reptile, or any other part of any bird, beast or reptile,
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except upon a permit in the prescribed form obtained from the prescribed officer on payment of the prescribed fee.
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(2) This section shall have effect as if it formed part of the Customs Ordinance, and the provisions of that Ordinance shall apply accordingly.
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” bird ” or ” reptile ” does not include any bird or reptile of a species which is not indigenous to Ceylon;
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” beast ” does not include-
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(a) any animal the exportation of which is restricted by section 19, or
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(b) any domestic animal as defined in section 11, or
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(c) any beast of a species which is not indigenous to Ceylon.
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(4) In any case of doubt or dispute a certificate purporting to be signed by the Director of Museums to the effect that any bird, beast, or reptile belongs to a species which is not indigenous to Ceylon, or that any species of any bird, beast, or reptile is a species not indigenous to Ceylon, or that any part of any bird, beast, or reptile is a part of a bird, beast, or reptile of a species which is not indigenous to Ceylon, or that any egg of any bird or reptile is the egg of a bird or reptile of a species which is not indigenous to Ceylon shall for all purposes be final and conclusive as to the facts stated therein.
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Penalty for unlawful export of bird beasts, and reptiles.
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41. Any person who exports from Ceylon any bird, beast, or reptile, whether dead or alive, or any part of any bird, beast, or reptile, or any eggs, feathers, plumage, horns or skin in contravention of the provisions of section 40 shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand rupees or to imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.
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Protection of plants included included in Schedule II
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42.
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(1) No person shall in any area specified for the time being in the second column of Schedule III-
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(a) remove, uproot or destroy, any damage or injury to, any plant which is for the time being included in the First Column of Schedule III and –
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(i) is the property of any other person; or
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(ii) is growing in any public place; or
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(b) destroy any plant which is for the time being included in the First Column of Schedule III and is his own property ; or
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(c) sell or expose or offer for sale any plant for the time being included in the First Column of Schedule III ,
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except upon a permit in the prescribed form obtained from the prescribed officer on payment of the prescribed fee.
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(2) If no fee is prescribed for the issue of a permit for the purposes of subsection (1), that permit shall be issued free of charge.
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Protected trees.
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43. No person shall uproot or destroy or cause any damage or injury to any tree (hereinafter called a ” protected tree”) growing in any public place and included for the time being in Schedule IV:
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Provided that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prohibit or to penalize any act done by or on the orders of any person entrusted by the Crown or by any local authority with the charge or care of any protected tree if such act is done in order to stimulate the growth or to improve the condition or appearance or to secure the safety or to preserve the existence of any such tree.
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Alteration of Schedules III and IV.
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44. The Minister[1] may by regulation add to, rescind, vary or amend any of the provisions of Schedule III or Schedule IV;
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Provided that no tree shall be so added to the list of trees in Schedule IV unless that tree is growing in a public place and unless in the opinion of the Minister[1] the preservation or protection of that tree is necessary or desirable for scientific or aesthetic purposes or on religious or historical grounds.
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Regulations relating to flora.
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45. Regulations may be made-
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(a) prohibiting or regulating the exportation from Ceylon of any specified plant, whether or not such plant is included for the time being in Schedule III;
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(b) prohibiting or regulating the cultivation of any specified plant;
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(c) prescribing the conditions to be attached to any permit issued under section 42;
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(d) generally, for the protection and conservation of the wild vegetation, plant life and flora of Ceylon.
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Offences under Part IV.
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46. Any person who acts in contravention –
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(a) of the provisions of section 42 or of any permit issued to him under that section or of any condition attached to any such permit; or
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(b) of the provisions of section 43 ; or
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(c) of any regulation made under section 45,
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Savings-Part IV.
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47. Nothing in this Part of this Ordinance shall affect the provisions of-
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(a) the Forest Ordinance, or any rules or regulations made thereunder;
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(b) the Water Hyacinth Ordinance ;
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(c) the Plant Protection Ordinance, or of any regulation made thereunder;
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(d) the Tea Control Act, or of any regulation made thereunder;
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(e) the Rubber Control Act, or of any regulation made thereunder;
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(f) any other written law relating to the cultivation or to the regulation or the prohibition of the cultivation of any plant.
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Interpretation of Part IV.
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48. In this part of this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires-
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” plant” means any member of the vegetable kingdom and includes the seed and any part of a plant other than the flower;
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” public place ” means any Crown land or land at the disposal of the Crown or land belonging to or vested in a local authority and includes any land which is not private property.
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Taxidermists and traders in animals,skins, & c, to be licensed.
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49.
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(1) No person shall carry on or exercise the business or trade of a taxidermist, or any business or trade for the purchase or sale of any animal, whether dead or alive, or of any part of any dead animal, except upon a licence in the prescribed form obtained from the prescribed officer on payment of the prescribed fee.
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(2) Every licence issued under subsection (1) shall be subject to the prescribed conditions and if no fee is prescribed for the issue of such a licence, it shall be issued free of charge.
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(3) In this section “animal” means an animal as defined in section 11, but does not include a domestic animal as defined in that section.
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No gun to be discharged on a prohibited road.
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50.
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(1) The Minister[1] may by notification in the Gazette declare any road in any area outside a National Reserve or a Sanctuary to be a prohibited road for the purposes of this Ordinance.
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(2) Any person who discharges any gun on any prohibited road or on any land adjoining any such road and reserved for its extension, protection or benefit, shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred rupees or to imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one month or to both such fine and imprisonment.
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(3) Regulations may be made prescribing the means by which and the manner in which the fact that any road is a prohibited road for the purposes of this Ordinance may be brought to the notice of members of the public who have occasion to use that road or to travel thereon.
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Prohibition of shooting from vehicles.
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51. No person shall shoot at any bird or animal from any position in or on any moving or stationary vehicle of any kind.
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Prohibition of use of artificial lights.
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52. No person shall use any artificial light for the purpose of enabling or facilitating the destruction of any bird or animal, whether by dazzling the vision of any such bird or animal or otherwise.
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Regulation of hunting, shooting, & c, on Crown land outside National Reserves.
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53. Except in accordance with regulations, no person shall on any Crown land outside a National Reserve-
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(a) hunt, shoot, kill, or take any animal, reptile, or bird, between sunset and sunrise;
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(b) set, lay, or spread any net, pitfall, trap, snare or other instrument for the purpose of killing or taking any animal, reptile, or bird ; or
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Rewards for destruction of elephants responsible for damage to property.
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54. Where in any area outside a National Reserve any damage has been caused by elephants to any crops, plantations, or other property, the Warden may, with the approval of the Minister,[1] pay a reward to any person who has killed any elephant which in the opinion of the Warden caused or was likely to have caused such damage whether alone or in association with other elephants :
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Provided that the reward so paid to any person shall not in any case exceed a sum of one hundred rupees for each elephant killed by that person.
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Circumstances in which acts otherwise prohibited may be authorized.
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55.
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(1) The Warden may by a writing under his hand authorize any person to do any act otherwise prohibited or penalized under this Ordinance or any regulation made thereunder, if in the opinion of the Warden such act should be authorized for the protection, preservation or propagation, or for the scientific study or investigation, or for the collection of specimens for a zoo, museum or similar-institution, of the fauna and flora of Ceylon.
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(2) No person authorized under subsection (1) to do any act shall, by reason only of the commission of that act, be guilty of an offence under this Ordinance or any regulation made thereunder.
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GENERAL LICENCES AND PERMITS |
Refusal and revocation of licences and permits.
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56.
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(1) The Warden or any officer empowered to issue a licence or permit under this Ordinance or any regulation made thereunder may in his discretion-
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(a) insert in any such licence or permit any condition which he may consider necessary or expedient;
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(b) refuse to issue any such licence or permit;
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(c) revoke any such licence or permit, by notice in writing to the person to whom such licence or permit was issued.
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(2) Any person aggrieved by the refusal or revocation of any permit or licence (other than a licence under section 49) may appeal against such refusal or revocation to the Minister.[1]
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(3) Any person aggrieved by the refusal to issue a licence under section 49 or by the revocation of any licence issued under that section may appeal against such refusal or revocation to the Minister.[1]
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(4) The decision of the Minister[1] on any appeal preferred under subsection (2) or subsection (3), as the case may be, shall be final and conclusive.
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(5) Regulations may be made prescribing the time within which appeals shall be preferred and generally in respect of all matters incidental to or connected with the hearing or disposal of such appeals.
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Licences and Permits not to he transferred.
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57.
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(1) No person other than the person named in any licence or permit issued under this Ordinance or any regulation made thereunder shall be entitled under cover of that licence or permit to do any act to authorize which that licence or permit was issued.
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(2) Any person who transfers to any other person any licence or permit issued to him under this Ordinance or any regulation made thereunder shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred rupees or to imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one month or to both such fine and imprisonment.
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General Penalty.
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58. Any person who does any act in contravention of any of the provisions of this Ordinance or of any regulation or of any condition inserted in any licence or permit issued under this Ordinance or under any regulation shall be guilty of an offence punishable, where no other penalty is expressly provided by this Ordinance, with a fine not exceeding two hundred rupees or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months or with both such fine and imprisonment.
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Attempts and abetment.
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59. Any person who attempts to commit or abets the commission of any offence under this Ordinance or any regulation made thereunder shall himself be guilty of the same offence.
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General exceptions to criminal liability.
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60.
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(1) An act otherwise prohibited or penalised under this Ordinance or any criminal regulation made thereunder shall not be an offence if it is done-
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(a) for the purpose of protecting any human being or any domestic animal from any immediate danger or from injury by any wild animal; or
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(b) for the purpose of killing or taking in or in the immediate vicinity of any human dwelling or of the land in which such dwelling is situate any leopard, bear, wild boar, crocodile or poisonous reptile.
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(2) In this section the expressions “animal”, ‘”domestic animal” and “wild animal” respectively have the meanings assigned to those expressions in section 11.
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No prosecution without sanction of Warden.
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61. No prosecution for any offence under this Ordinance or any regulation made thereunder shall be instituted except by the Warden or with his written sanction.
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Power to compound offences.
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62. The Warden may at any time compound any offence under this Ordinance; and where a prosecution has been entered against any person for any offence under this Ordinance, the Warden may compound such offence at any time before judgment and may withdraw such prosecution.
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Offences to be triable summery by Magistrates Courts,
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63. It shall be lawful for a Magistrate summarily to try any offence under this Ordinance or under any regulation :
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Provided that nothing herein contained shall affect the right of a Primary Court to try any such offence in respect of which jurisdiction is conferred on such court.
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Power of Magistrate’s Court to make order of confiscation.
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64.
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(1) Except as is hereinbefore expressly provided in regard to the disposal of any elephant or of the car case of any tusker or elephant or the tusks of any tusker on the conviction of any person for an offence relating to a tusker or elephant, or any part of any animal in respect of which any offence has been committed and any gun, boat, artificial light, snare, net, trap, or other instrument, contrivance, appliance or thing used in or for the commission of any offence may be confiscated by order of the court before which the offender is convicted and may be disposed of in such manner as the court may direct.
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(2) In this section ” animal” means an animal as defined in section 11.
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Informer’s share of fines.
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65. It shall be lawful for the court before which an offender is convicted of an offence to direct in respect of any fine that may be imposed for such offence that any share not exceeding one-half thereof or of so much as shall actually be recovered be awarded to the informer.
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Powers of arrest and search.
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66. Any police officer and any other prescribed officer may, subject to such restrictions as may be prescribed, stop and search-
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(i) any person whom he suspects on reasonable grounds of having committed any offence ; or
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(ii) any boat, vessel or vehicle in which that person may be or may on reasonable grounds be suspected to be.
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Erection of barriers and search of vehicles, & c. on roads adjoining National Reserve.
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67.
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(1) For the purpose of preventing the commission of offences against section 8 of this Ordinance on any portion of any road running alongside a Strict Natural Reserve, National Park or Intermediate Zone-
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(a) it shall be lawful for the Warde to cause barriers to be placed across each end of that portion of the road, so as to enable vehicles to be stopped and searched thereat as hereinafter provided ; and
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(b) it shall be lawful for a prescribed officer to stop at such barrier any vehicle which is about to enter that portion of the road, and to search the vehicle and any person in the vehicle, for the purpose of ascertaining whether any gun is being carried therein, and in any case where any gun is so found therein, to require the person for the time being in charge of the vehicle to permit such officer or any other person specified by such officer to travel in that vehicle during the whole or any part of the journey to be performed on that portion of the road.
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(2) Where the person for the time being in charge of any vehicle which is stopped at any barrier under subsection (1) refuses, upon being required so to do under that subsection, to permit a prescribed officer or any person specified by such officer to travel in the vehicle, it shall be lawful for the prescribed officer to take such steps as may be necessary to prevent the vehicle from proceeding beyond the barrier.
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APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE |
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Appointment of officers.
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68.
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(1) For the purposes of this Ordinance, there may be appointed-
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(a) a person by name or by office to be or to act as Warden, or as Deputy Warden;
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(b) a person by name or by office to be or to act as district Warden, for any specified district or area;
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(c) a person to act as an honorary district Warden of any National Reserve or Sanctuary;
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(d) such other officers and servants as may, from time to time, be required.
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(2) In the exercise of their powers and in the discharge of their duties under this Ordinance all persons, officers and servants appointed under this section shall be subject to the general direction and control of the Minister.[1]
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(3) All persons, officers and servants appointed under this section shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of the Penal Code.
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Delegation of Powers of Warden
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69. The Warden may with the approval of the Minister[1] delegate to any district Warden in respect of his district or area or to any honorary district warden in respect of the NAtional Reserve or Sanctuary for which he is appointed any power or duty conferred or imposed on the Warden by this Ordinance or by any regulation made thereunder.
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Advisory committee.
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70.
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(1) The Minister[1] may appoint an advisory committee which shall consist of the Warden as chairman and of eleven other persons, for the purpose of advising the Warden and making recommendations to the Minister on all matters and questions relating to the fauna and flora of Ceylon.
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(2) Meetings of the advisory committee shall be held at least twice in every year.
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(3) The advisory committee shall be entitled to determine its own procedure in any matter of procedure for which no provision is prescribed.
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General regulations.
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71.
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(1) The Minister[1] may make regulations for the purpose of carrying out or giving effect to the principles and provisions of this Ordinance.
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(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred by subsection (1), the Minister[1] may make regulations for or in respect of all or any of the following matters :-
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(a) the circumstances in which and the conditions subject to which the Warden may exercise the powers conferred on him by section 55 ,
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(b) the circumstances in which and the conditions subject to which any licence or permit may be issued free of charge;
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(c) the fee to be paid for any licence or permit issued under this Ordinance or under any regulation, and the mode and manner of payment or recovery of any such fee ;
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(d) the prohibition or regulation of the import, manufacture, sale, possession or use of any head-gear so constructed as to be capable of being fitted with any lamp or artificial light or of any lamp constructed so as to be capable of being fitted into any head-gear ;
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(e) the period of office of the members of the advisory committee appointed under section 70, the manner in which meetings of that committee shall be convened, the procedure to be followed at such meetings, and the manner in which the recommendations of that committee shall be made;
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(f) the declaration of any period other than that specified in section 72 as a close season in respect of any particular species of bird or beast either throughout the whole of Ceylon or in any specified area ;
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(h) all matters for which regulations are required or authorised to be made under this Ordinance, all matters stated or required by this Ordinance to be prescribed, and ail other matters incidental to or connected with such matters.
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(3) Every regulation made by the Minister shall be brought before the Senate and the House of Representatives[1] by a motion that such regulation shall be approved. No regulation made by the Minister[1] shall have effect until it has been approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives[1], Notification of such approval[1] shall be published in the Gazette.
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(4) A regulation made by the Minister[1] when approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives[1] shall, upon notification of such approval in the Gazette, be as valid and effectual as if were herein enacted.
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INTERPRETATION AND SAVINGS |
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Interpretation
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72.
|
(1) In this Ordinance, unless the , context otherwise requires-
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” close season ” means the period from the thirtieth day of April to the thirty-first day of October in each year, or such other period as may be prescribed in respect of any particular species of bird or beast either throughout the whole of Ceylon or in any specified area;
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” Crown land ” means all land to which the Crown is lawfully entitled together with all rights, interests and privileges attached or appertaining thereto;
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“cultivated land” includes land used for chena cultivation when a crop is growing on such land;
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” Intermediate Zone ” means an Intermediate Zone declared [3] under section 2 (1):
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” gun” has the same meaning as in the Firearms Ordinance;
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” local authority” means any Municipality, Urban Council, Town Council, or Village Committee and includes the inhabitants*[* See section 3 (now repealed) of Ordinance No. 9 of 1924.] of a village area constituted under the Village Communities Ordinance ;
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” National Park ” means a National Park constituted by Order [3] under section 2 (1) ;
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“National Reserve” means a National Reserve constituted by Order[3] under section 2 (1) ;
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” offence ” means an offence under this Ordinance or under any regulation ;
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” police officer ” includes any headman appointed by a Government Agent to perform police duties ;
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” prescribed” means prescribed by this Ordinance or by regulation ;
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” regulation” means a regulation made by the Minister[1] under this Ordinance ;
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“Sanctuary” means a Sanctuary constituted by Order under section 2(2);
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” Strict Natural Reserve” means a Strict Natural Reserve constituted by Order[3] under section 2 (l) ;
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” Warden” means the person appointed[3] to be or to act as Warden under section 68 and includes the Deputy Warden appointed under that section.
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(2) Any reference in this Ordinance or in any regulation or in any other written law to a Schedule of this Ordinance shall be deemed to be a reference to the Schedule for the lime being in force.
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Savings- Licenses.
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73. Every licence issued by any authority under any written law repealed by Ordinance No. 2 of 1937 for the doing of any act for which a licence is required by this Ordinance shall be valid and continue in force until the expiration of the period for which it was granted.
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Savings Proclamations, notifications, rules, & c
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74. All such proclamations, notifications and orders issued, and all such regulations and rules made, and all such concessions, rules permissions and authorizations given, and all such royalties fixed under any written law repealed by Ordinance No. 2 of 1937 as are in force at the date on which this Ordinance comes into operation shall, so far as they relate to matters for which provision may in any manner be made under this Ordinance and so far as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, continue in force unless or until provision in regard to such matters is made in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance.
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Operation of Fisheries Ordinance.
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75. The provisions of the Fisheries Ordinance shall cease to be in operation in any National Reserve or Sanctuary as from the date on which such National Reserve or Sanctuary is duly constituted under section 2 ; but, subject as aforesaid, the provisions of that Ordinance shall continue to be in operation in any area outside a National Reserve or a Sanctuary.
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Chapter 469 , Volume No. 12 Page No.1027. |