Safari Park to attract tourists

Raja WAIDYASEKERA - Tissamaharama special corr.

The first ever Safari Park at Ridiyagama, Ambalantota in Hambantota district will provide an opportunity to experience wildlife to nature lovers, said Sports and Public Recreation Minister Gamini Lokuge.

The Minister was addressing a meeting followed the laying of foundation stone to inaugurate the construction of the Safari Park.

The Minister said this Safari Park is the realisation of Mahinda Chintana Programme's objective of achieving nature friendly sustainable development.

The minister said 150 youth are being trained at the Dehiwala Zoo to enable them to become guides. They will be employed at the Safari Park.

Nearly 300 direct and indirect employment avenues will be opened for the youth in the Hambantota district.

Residents will be benefitted in many ways and this will be an income generator for them.

Unemployed youth in the Southern region have been provided facilities at hotel schools in Galle and Matara to follow courses in the hotel industry. Another hotel school will be set up at Hambantota soon, he said.

The Minister further said the park is located in close to the Mahapessa hot springs at Madunagala.

Port and Civil Aviation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa said there is nearly 600,000 people in the Hambantota district. The motive behind our development activities is to make the people self reliant by providing them income generating means.

The dry zone, the Safari Park and the hot springs will attract tourists from around the globe.

Plans are under way to set up a bridge over Walaweganga to ease travelling difficulties of the villagers.

Sports Minister Bandula Basnayaka said President Mahinda Rajapaksa has kept to his promises and has not shattered the expectations of the masses.

Department of National Zoological Gardens Director Duminda Jayaratna, District Secretary Hambanbtota R. M. D. B. Meegasmulla, Secretary of Ministry of Sports S. Liyanagama, Additional Secretary Ministry of Sports H. M. B. C. Herath and Chairman Ruhunu Tourist Bureau K. M. Hemasiri Silva were present.