Sri Lanka Wildlife Department promises action against national park regulation violators

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Wildlife Department will take legal action against anyone violating rules and regulations at the Yala national park, an official said, after video footage of reckless driving inside the park went viral.

Wildlife Ministry Secretary Dharma Wanninyake told EconomyNext that 35 vehicles had taken part in the motorsport technique of ‘drifting’ in an open space of the park. However, the exact number of people involved could not be verified at the moment.

Wildlife Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, meanwhile, has ordered a temporary suspension for seven tour guides who had allegedly been involved and suspension rates are likely to increase, said Wanninayake.

The Director General of Sri Lanka Wildlife Department has blacklisted the vehicles that were present and has barred the identified participants from entering any national park for a span of three years.

“The purpose of visiting the Yala National Park is to see the animals, and there is a certain way in which we expect the visitors to behave,” said Wannaniyake. (Colombo/Oct25/2022)