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| Sunday, 10 October 2004 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Tourists interested in forest, wewa and elephants Sumithra de Silva
The forest and the 'wewa' are tourist attractions. Visitors are also interested in seeing elephants. The popular characters called 'Alipiya' and 'Alipreme' take the tourists to watch wild elephants bathing as well as for riding tamed elephants. There are many foreigners who are interested in wild life and the behaviour of elephants and other animals. The foreign exchange increases because of the interest of the foreigners in our flora and fauna. Even the wild elephants which live in the sanctuaries close to the Habarana, Minneriya and Kawduluwewa tanks are becoming familiar with people. In the past the elephants were angry at the sight of people and as a result they caused great damage to property and human life.
As more hotels and resthouses have been built in Sigiriya, Habarana, Polonnaruwa, Minneriya, Kawduluwewa to fulfil the requirement of tourists more and more tourists visit to see wild life. Special transport services have been provided for the tourists in the places mentioned above. Alipiya's and Alipreme's jeep transport services is popular for sight-seeing by the tourists. If there was any foreigner who did not know Alipiya and Alipreme he or she may be visiting Sri Lanka for the first time. Tourists go to Alipiya and Alipreme direct whenever they want to see wild elephants. Wild elephants are drawn to the Minneriya, Habarana or Kawduluwewa tank in the evening for bathing and drinking water. Piyasena or Alipiya and Premasiri or Alipreme take the tourists to see the wild elephants bathing and play. Beauty It is beautiful to see than when the elephants visit the tanks and frolic in the water bathing and enjoy the environment close to the tank bund. Be careful
Alipiya never forgets to stop his vehicles and make an offering to the god Pulleyar for the safety of the tourists before they enter the forest. He believes that so far nothing dangerous has happened because of his belief in the 'god Pulleyar'. Alipiya warns the tourists strictly not to get excited at the sight of elephants and not to scare the elephants with noise and the flashes of cameras and asks the tourists not to get off their vehicles. Appreciation The tourists enjoy seeing herds of elephants for 7-8 miles on their way to see wild elephants. Experience The singing of birds and the sound of other wild animals break the silence of the forest instil a certain year and at the same time a thrill. The foreigners experience the beauty of the environment surrounding the tanks having come about 25 miles through the forest travelling for two three hours. In the past elephants gave chase to vehicles at the sight of them but now they can be considered to be friends of the people. Just as people are quiet so are elephants. It is a custom of Alipiya and Alipreme to throw a party for the foreigners after the sight-seeing. It is an offence to act against the wishes of Alipiya and Alipreme and also it is against the forest department law to set fire to the forest. Huntings, shooting and torturing animals and Alipiya and Alipreme also adhere to the same rules strictly. Familiar The beauty of the forest. The foreigners show a liking for ride on elephants sitting on especially made seats. Alipreme had made a especial ladder to climb onto the elephant's back. The timber ladder has been made according to the height of the elephants and helps the foreigners to climb onto the back of the animals without too much difficulty. Alipreme has the most number of elephants in the North Central Province. Just as our people are used to the wild elephants the foreigners are also now used to them. It is wonderful to see foreigners approach wild animals and feed them with fruits and touch their bodies affectionately. Sri Lanka earns a large amount of foreign exchange through the service of Alipiya and Alipreme in the forest with this huge elephants. |
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