Yala Park: No green light from military yet

Re-opening of the Yala wild life park has been delayed by more than eight weeks, as uncertainty hangs over the security of the park, following the recent spate of LTTE violence in an around the park. The livelihood of park trackers and those who operate the Safari jeeps have been hit badly as they await the reopening.

Military personnel who are combing the area are yet to give the all-clear to authorities to open the park. They have so far combed one of the five blocks open to the public. They were however hoping to do a second round of checking in Block 1. Brigadier Sudantha Ranasinghe who is overseeing the security of the park said they were currently searching Blocks 3 and 4.

According to the Wild Life Department the last quarter of the year draws the highest number of local and foreign tourist to the park boosting its revenue as well as that of the tourist industry as a whole. According to the statistics of last year the earnings in the form of gate collections in October amounted to Rs. 2.4 million, Rs. 3.7 million in November and Rs, 4 million in December.

However, in the previous years the income was higher. In 2005 October the park earned a revenue of Rs. 2.6 million followed by R.s 5.6 million in November and Rs. 6 million in December. In 2004 the income was still higher -- Rs. 4 million in October, R.s 11 million in November and Rs. 7.8 million in December.

Since January this year until the park was closed in September the park had received Rs 48.3 million as revenue. Foreigners pay Rs. 1,800 (US 14) while locals pay Rs. 30 as entrance fee while vehicle parking fees add to the revenue. While the closure of the park has affected the economy in general, Safari tour organizers in particular have been badly hit.

A spokesperson for the Safari Jeep Association, Susantha said they operated about 275 jeeps in the area and that currently they had no business and the jeeps were lying idle.

Meanwhile Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said it would take a long time to search the entirety of the park, which is over 14,000 hectares but they hoped to clear Block one and give approval to open it soon.