Feb 15, Colombo: Sri Lanka police sources say that the Police Special Task Force (STF) and Air Force have joined the ongoing operation against the cannabis farms in the Udawalawe Forest Reserve in the Moneragala district.

The operation has caused a controversy since the politicians who are backing the illegal business are putting pressure on the defence authorities to suspend the massive operation, sources said.

Police said that 300 police personnel have entered the forest and they are destroying the identified cannabis cultivations in the forest.

Sri Lanka Air Force Beechcraft Super King Air reconnaissance craft is also used to identify the cannabis farmlands, police sources said.

According to police officials, the STF had raided around 80 cannabis farms last few weeks and destroyed cannabis worth around Rs. 100 million.

The massive operation of growing cannabis came to light when the wildlife officers who were involved in the operation last month abducted two police officers attached to the Central Anti-Corruption Force, Walana, Panadura, who were a part of a team of police officers entered the forest reserve to raid a cannabis plantation.