Yala National Park set for major upgrade to ease tourist congestion

Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi met with wildlife department officials at the Palatupana entrance to outline a new physical development plan for Yala National Park aimed at reducing congestion and upgrading facilities for visitors.

The initiative focuses on improving infrastructure through short- and long-term targets, including upgraded parking areas, service centres, ticket counters, information points, museums, washrooms, souvenir shops, and staff quarters.

Ministry secretary K.R. Uduwawala, Wildlife Additional Director General Manjula Amaranath, and Additional Secretary Udaya Kumara joined the discussions alongside senior officials.

Authorities intend to address staff shortages by filling vacancies to support project implementation, while Minister Patabendi directed officials to expedite approvals and commence construction work immediately.

Minister Patabendi reviewed several sites during an inspection tour, directing officials to improve facilities for local and foreign tourists.

Proposals discussed included establishing new service centres and vehicle parking spaces, upgrading park entrances, information centres, ticket counters, museums, sanitation services, souvenir outlets, and staff quarters, alongside addressing human resource shortages in the wildlife department.

Officials highlighted the need for extra ticket counters and updated technology to reduce delays during peak visitor periods.

Further plans were discussed to renovate damaged roads for safari jeeps, developing facilities at the Lunugamwehera entrance, and creating Arangamuwa as a new viewing zone to ease congestion in Yala Zone 02.

Water is supplied daily to animals using three bowser trucks to combat dry weather conditions, while six solar-powered water units were installed to fill small ponds with capacity for expansion.