Narangala mountain range to be developed as tourist attraction

The Badulla District Coordination Committee has decided to develop Narangala mountain range and Mini World's End at Madulima (Punchi Lokanthaya) to be developed as a tourist attraction.

At the District Committee meeting held on Friday (4), it was decided that the two areas would be handed over to the Tourism Development Board to carry out development.

Addressing the district committee meeting Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva assured that the areas would still remain under the provincial councils once the development is done by the Tourist Board .

Sornathta Divisional Secretary, Nimesha Wanasinghe pointed out that the Naranagala mountain area is an environmentally sensitive area. Therefore District secretary Damayanthi Paranagama temporally restricted movements within the area as people have engaged in activity that damage the environment.

She also explained that the district secretary along with forestry officers visited the area and found the area littred with empty bottles and trash. She also said that campers also set up camp fires and even burned some areas.

She said that the area host over 142 water sources which feed uma oya and  Badullu oya areas, apart from that the environmental experts have found out the area  has 142 plant species. It was revealed that the areas consist of 64 tree species, 24 vines, 22 medicinal plants and 2 parasitic plants.

 Therefore it was finally decided to re-open the area as a tourist attraction after implementing a set of rules to keep the area safe from environmental pollution.  

Story By Badulla Correspondent, Palitha Ariyawansa