Calls grow for the return of Army to Yala

Calls are growing to restablish the Army units at the Yala National Park, amid reports that illicit activities within Sri Lanka's premier wildlife sanctuary have increased since their withdrawal.

Joining villagers and willdlife activits who want the Army back in the Yala National Park was the Sithulpawwa Viharaya's Chief Incumbent, t h e Ve n . Mataramba Hemarathana Thera. He has urged President Maithripala Sirisena to reestablish the army units at the Yala National Park.

The Army camps at Katagamuwa and Kochchipathana had provided security to the Yala National Park during the 30- year war period. They were removed on March 27 following a written request from the Wildlife Director General. However, environmentalists and wildlife activists have expressed concern over the withdrawal.

The Chief Incumbent of the 2,200- year- old Sithulpawwa temple, which is situated at the centre of the national park, said illegal activities such as poaching, felling of trees, gem mining and large scale ganja cultivation were checked because the soldiers were deployed in the sanctuary.

Endorsing his views, villagers said they wanted the Army because it could provide security to the area and protect the park from criminals and racketeers.

The villagers said that the racketeers used alternative routs through Katagamuwa, Kochchipatana, Sithulpawwa, Heenwewa and Bebawa to avoid the Army. But the Army was, to a great extent, successful in cracking down on illicit activities within the sancturary.

The army camps also gave a security assurance to local and foreign tourists who visited Yala and Sithulpawwa temple, they said.

Wildlife Director General W. S. A. Pathirathna said he had requested the Defence Ministery to remove the Army cantonments because many foreign tourists were not comfortable with their presence.

Army spokesperson Roshan Seneviratna confirming the removal of army camps said the camps were removed on the instructions of the Defence Ministry, as there was no terrorist threats now in and around Yala National Park,

Illicit activities have increased since the army withdrawal