Ban lifted on morning safaris at Wilpattu National Park

Sri Lankan authorities have reversed a ban on morning safaris at Wilpattu National Park, which had been earlier enforced owing to an ongoing drought.
The decision to reverse the ban came during discussions the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) had with Minister of Tourism, the association said in a media release.
“The outcome is a favourable one for all stakeholders wherein morning safaris will now be permitted into the national park. This decision reached through consensus by all stakeholders reflects an ideal collaboration between the public and private sector bodies for a beneficial solution for the sector and the economy,” it said on Monday.
Before arriving at this decision the Department of Wildlife appointed a specialist team and invited representatives from SLAITO and the Tourism department on the team to assess the water availability situation in the park. This inclusive initiative by the Department of Wildlife, the association said, was hailed by all concerned. Considering that the park still retains 40-50 per cent of its water source, the team recommended the re-opening of the park for morning safaris, so that animals in the park would not be inconvenienced for the rest of the day. - ENDS -