National Parks to be upgraded:

Environmental tourism to boost tourist industry

Nimal Wijesinghe - Anuradhapura additional district group correspondent

The Wildlife Department has planned to embark on an environmental tourism promotion scheme to boost the country's tourist industry on par with the Mahinda Chintana – future vision. Wildlife Conservation and Agrarian Services Deputy Minister S. M. Chandrasena told the Daily News that under this programme infrastructure facilities at National Parks such as Wilpattu, Yala, Kumana, Galoya, Lahugala and Maduruoya will be upgraded to achieve the objectives.

“In the Anuradhapura District we have aimed at developing the Wilpattu Sanctuary and the Ritigala Elephant Transit Centre as major tourist attractions. Also the proposed elephant holding ground will be established in Horowpathana shortly.

While providing protection to the existing animals, stubborn elephants from other areas will be shifted to this ground for rehabilitating”, Chandrasena said. The minister further said that a forested landscape of 3,000 areas in Horowpothana is being converted into a major elephants’ holding ground at a cost of Rs. 500 million.

The construction of a road of 18 kms is nearing completion and three tourist observation platforms are under construction in addition to a 10 km interior roadway. Chandrasena said that the construction of the project would be completed in June, 2013.

He further said that the 374 acre large Ritigala elephant transit home is also open for tourists.

There are several baby elephants at present being treated here for injuries. Referring to the world Wetlands Day which falls on February 2, Chandrasena said that in addition to the five wetland environmental systems in the country such as the Bundala National Park the Arawilundewa Sanctuary, the Maduganga sanctuary, Vankalai Sanctuary and the Kumana-Panama Sanctuary already listed in the Ramsar Convention – 1971 it has been proposed to name the Wilpattu National Park, Chundikulam Sanctuary and the Yodawewa (giant tank) National Park as Ramsar Wetland Zones.