|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Thursday, 30 December 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
The destruction of our Yala treasure by Florence Wickramage
Sri Lanka's largest, oldest and the most popular National Park is closed indefinitely for the public after a section of the park was devastated by the Tsunami Tidal Waves. A new dawn breaking over a national park brings with it an aura of tranquillity and peace and great expectations to those who prefer a short break in the `wilds'- away from the hustle and bustle of city life. While the fragrance laden cool breeze blew over the vast expanse of Yala the rosy hues of a new dawn lit up the skies amidst the joyous cries of birds and beasts with the promise of yet another eventful day and a calm moonlit night - being full moon day. But eventful it was - for little was it expected that barely three hours away from dawn, Yala would experience the darkest day in its existence. On December 26 the Yala National Park's sea-coast boundary was hit relentlessly by Tsunami waves completely devastating acres and acres of the plains bringing death and destruction in its wake. On this fateful hour, around 9 and 9.15 in the morning, dreams were shattered, property destroyed and innocent lives were snuffed out within moments. Nature's fury knew no bounds as mighty waves one after the other rising to a height of nearly 20ft. pounded the Patanangala beach area and adjoining Palatupana.
Persons sunbathing or strolling in the beach or swimming in the warm morning waters, fishermen bound homeward in their canoes bringing in their day's catch, several others relaxing in holiday homes fell prey to Tsunami's mighty tidal waves. Giant trees which provided shelter to the wildlife in this section of the park were uprooted and thrown miles away from their original locations. The sea had entered the lagoons in the park making it one with each other. The grasslands were submerged by sea water. The roaring waves lashed at buildings reducing them to rubble, threw down unsuspecting mortals destroyed vehicles before sucking them back mercilessly into the folds of the mighty ocean. The gloomy pall of death and destruction greeted us as we, a group of journalists, wended our way to the Yala National Park on official duty of yet another nature.
As we reached the location a group of residents of Yala said "don't go - its far too dangerous, the waves would roll in at any moment". But this warning did not deter us as we got down briskly to the duty expected of us journalists. We saw bodies being brought in, empty luggage carriers hanging from branches, a couple of vehicles, furniture etc. stuck in the muddy lagoons, personal belongings such as documents, identity cards strewn here and there. Some bodies were stuck in the mud while some were hanging or stuck amidst the branches of trees and bushes. Only the cracked cemented floor of the Patanangala Bungalow was remaining at its location, the Yala Safari Lodge had disappeared without a trace and the inmates of both bungalows had been devoured by the tidal waves. The entire Patanangala and Palatupana areas looked like a scarred battle field - the only difference being, acres and acres of wet muddy ground, slippery and unapproachable dotted here and there by scattered trees twisted, bent and broken by the force of the lashing waves and thick thorn bushes which had withstood Tsunami's force. Certain sections of the area were splattered with small to large fish brought in by the incoming waves. Local surviving village residents moaned that they have lost their only livelihood - tourism. One tour guide said that he brought in 16 tourists in the morning. While getting ready for his return journey he witnessed the lagoon waters lifting itself up to around 10 feet and sensing disaster, fled in the opposite direction. He survived, but lost his newly bought car. A young man was crying inconsolably - he had lost his two brothers. The body of only one was found. A rescuer had picked up a lady's handbag and on inspection had found an identity card belonging to a schoolgirl down south. Rescuers said that they picked up several identity cards and tried their best to place them on bodies they could identify. Tsunami however failed to destroy the precious fauna in the park. One tracker said that animals have a sixth sense through which they could smell impending disaster. Large and small animals have fled the area before the tidal waves struck. As such there were no birds to be seen, no small animals grazing on patches of grasslands, no solitary wild elephants towering through the tall mana-grass and not even jungle fowls hurriedly creeping into thickets. The whole area was desolate with absolutely no life. Yala The Yala National Park is the oldest National Park in the island boasting of a historical background. Covering 1,297 kilometres Yala spreads over 129,700 ha. The Multifarious ecosystems ranging from Moist Monsoon Forest to Dry Monsoon Forests, Semi Deciduous Forests, Thorn Forests, Grasslands, Fresh water and marine wetlands, sandy beaches possesses a large number of important browse plant species and small animals. Declared in 1900 as a protected area was upgraded to sanctuary status in 1909. The Ruhuna National Park best known as the Yala National Park with its many attractions of biodiversity of fauna and flora, range lands and other habitats, main and minor rivers, tanks and natural waterholes, mangroves, beaches, and lagoons gained prominence with the passing years as a popular tourist destination. Director General Wildlife Conservation Dayananda Kariyawasam said that around 1 million tourists both foreign and local visit the park annually. The eight bungalows available for visitors located at Patanangala, Mahaseelawa, Buttuwa, Yala, Thalgasmankada, Heenwewa, Ondaatchi and Dambakote which is reserved for officers are practically full right throughout the year. The Tidal Waves have destroyed around 300 ha. of the park and the entire National Park will be closed for the public indefinitely, Kariyawasam said. During this period urgent measures will be implemented to reconstruct the destroyed buildings and to repair the road network to bring back the park to normalcy. We returned Tissamaharama which was having a sleepless night. The District Hospital was filled with relatives in search of their kith and kin either among the dead or those receiving treatment. There were crowds at the florists and undertakers - some wailing as they readied themselves to give their departed loved ones a fitting farewell. Groups of people dotted the road, despair written all over their faces. On the next morning we left Uda Walawe leaving behind the popular and historical Yala National Park now closed to the public indefinitely hoping that it would soon spring back to life from the deep slumber forced on it by the relentless Tsunami. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
