A shootout between illegal gem miners and forest rangers at the Yala Forest Reserve have occurred yesterday.
The Police Media Spokesman's said that , the group had been engaged in illegal gem in block 3 of the forest reserve.
When forest rangers attempted to arrest the illegal miner, one had been injured and three others had fled the area.
The injured suspect has been identified as a 23-year old resident of Kataragama.
He is currently receiving treatment at the Hambantota Hospital and the police are conducting further investigations.
Police have seized equipment used for gem mining and three mobile phones.
Kataragama Police are conducting further investigations.