Luxury safari lagoon boat-service to expand tourist industry

CHRISTIE FERNANDO, Chilaw special corr

The proposal of a luxury safari lagoon boat-service from Baththalangunduwa isle in Kalpitiya to the Wilpattu National Park was mooted to expand the booming tourist industry, Deputy Economic Development Minister S M Chandrasena said.

The Deputy Minister made this observation when he was on an inspection tour of tourist hotels being constructed in Kalpitiya peninsula last week.

Deputy Minister Chandrasena said that he has earmarked Kalpitiya peninsula as the most ideal and suitable place to develop the tourist industry.

The dolphins, whales and corals that abound in the shallow sea water, and even popular beach-sports on the sprawling sea-sand beaches would attract and allure the tourists.

They could also for a change visit the ancient, age-old places of historical interest and islands dotted around Kalpitiya because the lagoon in Kalpitiya is also situated adjacent to the Wilpattu National Park.

So the tourists visiting Kalpitiya, can also traverse on an amazing boat-trip through the meandering lagoon to the Wilpattu National Park.

These sites will surely be of immense appeal, charm and enchantment to the sojourning and leisure-seeking visitors on vacation, Chandrasena pointed out.

Some believe that the corals in the shallow sea waters of the area ruined when observers take pleasure and revel in the corals they discover. But most emphatically, on the other hand, with the growing number of tourist arrivals in the island, the corals will rather be preserved and protecte, the Deputy Minister added. Puttalam UC Chairman K A Baiz, Kalpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman M H M Milhaj also participated in the discussions.