Sri Lanka to open extended safari park next month to woo tourists
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka will open the second phase of the Hambantota Ridiyagama Safari Park next month, expecting it to attract more tourists with the start of winter tourism season which brings more high spending foreign visitors to the island nation.
Minister of Agriculture, and Forest life and Forest Resources Mahinda Amaraweera in a statement said that the National Zoology Department hopes to open the second phase of the park on October 4, 2022.
The new section of the park will consist of three sectors including a wilderness for its small herbivore animals such as Sri Lankan Sambar deer, barking deer, mouse deer and an area for the children and adults to interact with animals.
The areas will also have an animal Reservation Centre which will not be opened for the public.
Around 500 acres of land has been allocated for the Ridiyagama Safari Park and 13 zones have been established for various animals.
Currently, about 200 acres of them have been developed and completed work and a administrative buildings, animal hospital, visitor facility places, parking places etc and several animal zones are included in that area.
The animal zones that are currently open for the general public are the African lion area which is about 35 acres of land, the herbivorous animal zone spreading about 80 acres and the Asian elephant zone and the Bengali tiger zone which is about 54 acres of land.
Sri Lanka authorities are working on reboost the country’s tourism sector in the country due to the forex shortage. According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Board, the country is expected to welcome 1 million foreign travelers and generate a revenue of 1.8 billion dollars in 2022.
The island has earned nearly 900 million dollars in the first eight months amid protests and emergency law discouraged tourists from coming amid travel advisories. (Colombo/ Sept 24/2022)
