Wilpattu attracts more visitors

Nimal Wijesinghe - Anuradhapura Additional District Group Correspondent

The local and foreign tourists visiting the Wilpattu Sanctuary have been on the increase. Under a proposal to the Government by the Wildlife Conservation and Agrarian Services Deputy Minister S M Chandrasena. Infrastructure facilities worth Rs 1,000 million are being provided to the national park, for the benefit of the visitors.

The construction work of four new tourist bungalows are nearing completion in addition to the bungalows existing at Manawila, Manikkawila, Thalawila and Kokmotai.

The proposed holiday bungalows are coming up at Mahawewa, Lunuwila, Maradanmaduwa and Manikka Polatthu. Once completed including the existing ones the four bungalows will accommodate around 100 tourists.

In the meantime, under the development plan road ways of around 100 kilometers have been completed thus making the visitors enable to tour the deep interior sections of the five wards in the sanctuary.

The income earned from selling tickets to visitors has also been on the increase. During last August alone an income of Rs 2,757,000 has earned.

In both September and October the sanctuary has earned an income of Rs 3 million and during the last 10 days the income has exceeded Rs one million.