2 November 2022 10:24 am Views - 2116
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed the Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera to look for suitable land for setting up a 1000-acre safari sanctuary in the Northern Province.
At present, no separate safari sanctuary has been established in the Northern Province.
Most of the sanctuaries and zoos are located in other parts of the country. So the people of the 05 districts of the Northern Province have to come to visit the zoos in the south.
Minister Amaraweera in turn has directed the Ministry Secretary as well as the Wildlife Director General and the Forest Resources Department Director General to look into suitable land for the new safari sanctuary to be established in the Northern Province.
The Minister also informed that the possibility of introducing certain species of animals that are present in the national zoos as well as the species that are currently spread in urban areas and are harmful to people's gardens to this park should also be investigated.
Meanwhile, Minister Amaraweera advised the Wildlife Director General to strictly implement the instructions given by the President and not to take steps to temporarily allow private vehicles into the Yala National Park.
The Minister also mentioned that local and foreign tourists going to Yala National Park can use the safari vehicles there on a rental basis. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)