However, he had splashed British headlines for different reasons not so long ago for quite the different reasons.

However, the news escaped local news, probably because he was named as Vim Kumaratunga the vet rather than Vimukthi Kumaratunga, the son of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

In mid March, the UK Standard reported that Vimukthi saved a five-foot boa constrictor became trapped behind a steering wheel after it slithered behind the dashboard on the way to an appointment with the vet.

The creature, named Snake, had escaped from a rucksack as owner Michael Reid was driving to the vet's surgery in Brislington, Bristol.

During the journey he noticed his pet was missing and spotted it stuck behind the steering wheel.

He immediately called vet Vim Kumaratunga at Highcroft Veterinary Group for help.

A mechanic was called to dismantle the dashboard before the snake could be freed.

The animal escaped unharmed after three hours and "a fair amount" of sedation before being brought back to the clinic for overnight observation.

Mr Kumaratunga had said: "When I received a phone call saying 'I need you to get my snake out of my dashboard', I thought it was someone pulling a prank.

"After realising it was Mr Reid on his way to our appointment, I rushed out to meet him and called for back-up from a fellow vet and veterinary nurse.

"After finding that the dashboard of the car needed to be taken apart, we enrolled the help of a local mechanic. Thankfully he wasn't scared of snakes.

"After three hours and a fair amount of sedation, we managed to free the snake unharmed."

Snake spent the rest of the night at the veterinary hospital to recover from his ordeal.

Mr Kumaratunga said he hoped the pet owner would bring a sturdier container to take Snake home.

"Having a large exotic species department at Highcroft Veterinary Group, we do see snakes and unusual pets on a regular basis," he said.

"However, that was definitely something I've never experienced before."

Boa constrictors can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh more than 100lb.

The large, non-venomous snakes are becoming popular in Bristol, according to the veterinary group.

(Pics : courtesy : standard.co.uk)