The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka has issued a statement clarifying that the Chinese National Wildlife and Grassland Administration Unit has not received any application for the importation of 100,000 rilawas from Sri Lanka.
The statement also notes that the unit has no knowledge of a request for the importation of 100000 rilawas from Sri Lanka. The Chinese National Wildlife and Grassland Administration Unit is responsible for monitoring and managing the import and export of wild animals and plants to and from China, and permission must be granted by the unit for such activities.
The embassy’s statement comes in response to reports in local and international media claiming that Sri Lanka was ready to export 100,000 endangered relaws to a Chinese private company for research. The Sri Lankan Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera, has previously made clarifications on the matter.
The Chinese Embassy has made inquiries to the National Wildlife and Grassland Administration Unit to address the issue.