Thousands of visitors to the Yala National Park over the weekend, taking advantage of the school vacation, were up in arms as they were deprived of a dip in the famed Menik ganga within the park after reports of locals bathing nude and tourists bathing in bikinis irked Wildlife officials.
Wildlife Assistant Director A.H. Sumanasena said visitors were not allowed especially on school vacation period as there had been a number of instances of “indecent exposure” by foreign and local visitors.
“We had allowed bathing previously, but it is prohibited in areas where visitors tend to relax and enjoy. Visitors are allowed to wash their faces and feel the water but bathing is prohibited,” he said.
He said some locals too bathe nude and wash clothes in the river. Around 50,000 persons visit Yala during the weekend and during the past few days there have been more than 100,000 visitors daily. They were also visiting the Hambantota port. |
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