Wildfire in Kawudulla and Somawathie

Two wildfires reported in Kawudulla and Somawathie National Parks yesterday had destroyed several hundred acres of reserved forest, the police said.

Police 119 Emergency Unit acting on information called in reinforcement to douse a fire spreading in Kawudulla National Park in Minneriya around 6.45am yesterday.

Officers of the Minneriya Police, the Wildlife Department, the Army and the people in the area helped the Fire Fighting Unit of the Hingurakgoda Air Force Base to control the fire.

However 200 acres were destroyed by the fire.

Meanwhile another wildfire reported in Somawathie Chaitiya Sanctuary on Friday evening had destroyed about 150 acres of forest.The members of the Pulathisipura Police, army and air force personnel as well as people in the area took measures to douse the fire without being spread further.

- KK