Tanks in wildlife parks get facelift

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

The Department of Wild Life Conservation plans to renovate 200 small and medium size tanks in wildlife sanctuaries and parks. "This will be the new step in our plan while the other development works continue in most of these parks," said Director General of the Department of Wild Life Conservation (DWLC) Dr. Chandrawansa Pathiraja.

The DWLC is in the process of identifying tanks that need to be immediately renovated, according to the Director General. The Department completed the renovations and refurbishing of four circuit bungalows in the Wilpattu National Park. Renovations of circuit bungalows in Yala, Udawalawa and Wasgamuwa National Parks are in rapid progress. In Wilpattu, Yala, Kumana and Gal Oya National Parks, 14 camping sites are under renovation and road networks are under reconstruction. "Following the heavy floods in the Eastern Province the Road Development Authority is reconstructing the main access roads towards the Kumana National Park and as a result we are able to re-start the infrastructure development activities in Kumana," he said. Infrastructure of the main National Parks are rapidly getting improved aiming to provide equal facilities for local and foreign visitors at all the parks.