New strategies to counter Sigiriya wasps

Priyanka Kurugala and Tennakoon Kulasekera

Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister SM Chandrasena directed officials to use alternative strategies to protect tourists visiting Sigiriya, from wasps.

He suggested the use of nets to cover wasp nests to protect tourists. The minister said a second alternative was to cover all main approach routes to the Sigiriya fortress with nets to protect tourists from wasp attacks. He also directed officers to provide a more attractive protective garment to tourists since some were not happy with the one provided at present.

“The garment the authorities provided for protection is not very comfortable and therefore tourists do not like to wear it,” he said.

Chandrasena said wasp nests would not be removed from the vicinity of the Sigiriya rock fortress.

Authorities earlier announced that wasp nests would be removed from the world heritage site, a major tourist hot spot in the island.

The minister who visited Sigiriya with Central Cultural Fund director Nimal de Silva and Wildlife Zonal director S Sumanasena on June 15, said he opposed the decision to remove wasps even earlier. He said environmentalists had argued that even though wasps will resettle in other sites, they will come again to Sigiriya as it is their traditional habitat.

Environmentalists also pointed out it would not be a solution to the problem.

The minister said the government would take action to provide safety measures to visitors soon.