All zones at Yala open from Jan 1
Nuwan KODIKARA in Yala
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S M Chandrasena
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All zones in the Yala National Park will be opened for local and
foreign tourists from January 1, said Agrarian Services and Wildlife
Minister S M Chandrasena.
He said earlier only Zone 1 of the park was opened for tourists due
to the conflict. "Now that terrorism has been wiped out and peace has
returned to the country, my Ministry has arranged to open the entire
park for the benefit of visitors," Chandrasena said. The Minister who
disclosed this at a press conference held after an inspection tour of
the Yala National Park and the Uda Walawa Elephant transit home, said
with the opening of the Magampura Port and the Mattala International
Airport more tourists are expected to visit the Yala National park.
He said his Ministry hoped to develop the park into an international
standard to cater to the expected high tourist traffic.
Chandrasena also thanked the security forces and police for weeding
out terrorists from the park and making it safe for visitors.
Ministry Secretary Udeni Wickramasinghe and Wildlife Director General
Chandrawansa Pathiraja were also associated with the Minister during the
tour. |
