The Sunday Times Plus Section

16th August 1998

With the military clearing the area, wildlife buffs are flocking back to Yala. Hiranthi Fernando reports:

Pronounced safe

The Yala Park, Sri Lan ka's major wildlife sanctuary, has been pronounced safe for visitors. Since several Wildlife Department bungalows in the park were burnt last year and some vehicles hijacked At Yala: tourists are back by terrorists, many wildlife enthusiasts kept away from Yala. The Army moved in to clear the park and a Competent Authority was appointed in charge. Today, visitors are flocking back.

"The security situation in Yala and Kataragama is fairly stable at present," said Brigadier H.A.N.T. Perera, the Competent Authority for the area.

"Yala is a vast jungle. The Army has covered a large area of the jungle to prevent infiltration by terrorists. With available troops we can secure it from infiltration. The terrorists definitely cannot enter Block 1. We can meet them outside and tackle the problem. We are hoping to get more troops, establish more detachments and expand the area of control to stop this menace."

"We cannot draw troops away from the North. We have found alternate means of appointing security personnel purely for Yala and Kataragama. We have already recruited some people from the area and they have turned out to be good soldiers. They are familiar with the area and know the jungles The soldiers on patrol well. I have asked for approval to recruit more soldiers under the volunteer set up. I have in fact requested the formation of a special battalion for Yala/Kataragama."

Brigadier Perera said that after the situation erupted last year, Yala was closed officially for one month and unofficially for six months. During this time, poaching and illicit felling of timber increased. However they have now succeeded in reducing it by 90%.

"We asked the poachers to surrender their weapons. Those who complied were not produced in court. Some of the poachers have now been recruited for Yala security," Brig. Perera said.

Brigadier Perera was optimistic that the Yala Park would prosper. July had been a good month and at the beginning of August, the income from the park was almost back to normal. The daily total on entrance fees is around a hundred thousand rupees. The hotels in the area too are apparently doing well.

"However much we try to secure Yala, the response from the Wild Life Department is very disappointing," Brig. Perera said.

"We have tried hard to repair the damaged bungalows and draw the visitors back. The sight of the burned out bungalows is not good for visitors to see. I have brought the situation to the notice of the Wildlife officials, the Ministry, the Governor of the Province as well as wildlife lovers."

"I am the Competent Authority without financial authority," Brigadier Perera commented.

"The Assistant Director at Kataragama handles the finances allocated for Yala. I have now asked for copies of letters regarding finances to be sent to me. We don't even get the money that is allocated to Yala. We have to shout and bargain for whatever we get."

When the Brigadier requested Rs. 10,000 to do up the signboards in the park, the reply was that if the FR permits approval would be given. In the meantime the job is being done with assistance from hoteliers in the area.

"I am a military officer but I have to look after the wildlife aspects that the wildlife authorities should be concerned about."

The Wildlife staff are prepared to work if the proper support is given by the Department, the Brigadier said. He has requested that the trackers be given walkie talkies to enable them to keep in touch in case of any problem.

"The Wildlife Department is concentrating on the other parks," Brig. Perera said. "Yala is our best wild life park. It is unfortunate that most of the aid given for wild life is diverted to the other parks at the expense of Yala. It is high time the Ministry and authorities concerned visited Yala and saw for themselves what is needed."

Regarding the lack of water, Brigadier Perera said that he was trying to fill up some of the smaller jungle tanks using bowsers so that the animals will remain in the park. With four bowsers, he could accomplish this task in a week he said. However, he has not been given the bowsers or the funds for this work.

The lack of a maintenance gang is another shortcoming at Yala. The park is apparently understaffed by 50% at present. The establishment approvals laid down in the 1950s have not been updated. Further, after the problems last year, many of the staff have been transferred elsewhere.

The soldiers are now attending to the daily maintenance. Unless the roads are done up before the rains, they will not be motorable.

"Visitors are coming to Yala again now," said the Manager of Yala Safari Hotel, just outside the Park. "There has been a remarkable increase in the Sri Lankan market. The British and the Germans have lifted the ban on travelling to Yala and the US. Embassy is also expected to do so. After June '96, we had a drop in occupancy, which has now picked up. We have to talk to travel agents and get back the charters that have stopped coming. Our occupancy averages around 30% per month. We expect August to be better."

"Brigadier Perera is doing a marvellous job here. He is better than the park wardens who have been here. The wild life authorities do no maintenance in the park. He has got the main road done up and effected many improvements. As long as he is here, the park will be in good order and we can expect a good tourist season."

Wildlife Dept. denies

The Director, Wild Life Con- servation Department, Bertie Jayasekera, denied that Yala Park was being neglected. "This year we spent a lot of money on bungalows in the other parks and the allocation is not sufficient to do more at Yala," he said. "The Treasury allocates funds for the Wild Life Department and we select what is most necessary to do. We have concentrated on Wasgamuwa, Bundala and Minneriya. However, the Mahaseelawa Bungalow has been repaired and we will repair Yala and Buttuwa soon."

Regarding understaffing, the Director said that after the problems last year, some staff have been transferred to other parks. The Department plans to increase their staff by 260 very soon. Interviews are now in progress. Thereafter, the Director said they will be able to allocate more staff for Yala. As regards the allocation of funds, Mr. Jayasekera said that the Wild Life Department being a government department, all income goes to the Treasury. The Treasury allocates funds annually to the department. However, Mr. Jayasekera said, the Department has given a bowser and trailer as well as fuel, to transport water to the bungalows and army camps in the park.

More soldiers, no water

When we visited Yala last weekend, jeep loads of both foreign tourists and Sri Lankans were touring the park. Soldiers in their camouflage uniforms were seen all around. Camps had been established at various points. Lookout posts erected on tree tops were manned twenty-four hours of the day. Groups of soldiers patrolled the jungle tracks of Block 1 on foot whilst the officers kept a constant check on their sectors. The soldiers crossed over to Block 2 as well.

Driving round the park, we could see that the vegetation, which is mostly scrub jungle was extremely dry. The usually picturesque tanks and water holes, the centre points of jungle life, lay parched. Only the larger tanks had any water at all. The burned out Yala Bungalow standing by the river looked forlorn. The Mahaseelawa Bungalow which had also been burned was repaired and newly painted although yet devoid of any furniture. Apparently, even to transfer furniture from another bungalow, required much red tape. Only one of the seven wild life bungalows inside the park is still functional.

Visiting the army camps in the park, it is evident that the army personnel are highly motivated and dedicated to the job of keeping Yala secure. They live a difficult life. During the rains, one of the camps gets completely flooded out and the men have to sleep, eat and even cook their meals perched on trees. "The LTTE is trying to cripple Yala Park economically," commented one army officer. "This is a national treasure. We must look after it so that people of all races can visit and enjoy it."

They came

At Paranathotupola, where visitors are allowed to alight from their vehicles, a number of foreign and local visitors were relaxing by the river. "We are not frightened to come to Yala now because the Army is here," said Amarasiri, a jeep driver employed by Flamingos Safari. "Two to three months ago, the jeep hires were low, about one third of the usual traffic. Now it has picked up. During July/August, we have been able to do two hires daily and earn Rs. 300-400. When traffic was low we moved to Uda Walawe. Now we have come back to work here."

Janandrey Castellaci and Sondra Fabbi, tourists from Italy, said they were not worried about visiting Yala.

"In Italy, they advised us not to visit the north but anywhere else was not a problem," Mr. Castellaci said. "We saw crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants and many kinds of birds. We have enjoyed our visit very much,' Ms. Fabbi said. "We have visited Jamaica, Thailand and Mexico but the best travel has been in Sri Lanka"

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