President opens new entrance road to Wilpattu

Atapattu BANDARA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa opened the new entrance road to the Wilpattu National Park from the eastern side, from Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya yesterday.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa opened the new entrance to Wilpattu yesterday. Picture by Sudath Silva

The President bought the first ticket to enter the National Park from the eastern side and observed the park after going in for some distance.

Only 200.000 acres of the Wilpattu National Park were open to the public. After opening this new entrance, it will extend up to 350.000 acres. This is the largest National Park in Sri Lanka.

The new entrance was opened in line with the rapid development programmes initiated parallel to the Deyata Kirula National Development Exhibition in Anuradhapura.

The Wilpattu National Park was open to local and foreign visitors from February 27, 2010 after the Army ensured visitors' security.

Ministers Tissa Karaliyadda, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and S M Chandrasena, North Central Province Governor Karunaratne Divulgane and Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake were also present.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa should be thanked for developing Thanthirimale and carpeting the pot-holed 35 km road which had been neglected for many years, Chief Incumbent of Thanthirimale Raja Maha Viharaya Ven Thanthirimale Chandarathana Thera said.

The road was repaired parallel to the development activities in Anuradhapura district in connection with the Deyata Kirula National Development Exhibition.

President Rajapaksa presented a Sanghawasa for the use of the Maha Sangha at the Thanthirimale temple yesterday.

Work on the building began in 2011 at a cost of Rs 7 million and was completed with financial support from the Religious Affairs Ministry.

Ministers Dinesh Gunawardena, S M Chandrasena and Tissa Karaliyadda, North Central Province Governor Karunaratne Divulgane and Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake were also present.