Tour operators affected by closure of road to Mini World's End
The dilapidated condition and the subsequent closure of a road leading to a popular tourist destination in the upcountry is affecting the tourist industry, the Sunday Times learns.
Since 2014, the Mini World's End at Sandatenna, Nuwara Eliya had become a very popular tourist attraction after a joint project by the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council and the Dept. of Agriculture opened up a four km stretch of road through a farmland to reach the site.
More than 20 tour vehicle operators whose livelihood depended on transporting tourists to Little World's End via this route say they are out of employment after the road that was in a bad condition was closed last month putting an end to safari tours to Mini Worlds End.
The Sunday Times learns that when the issue was taken up at a District Development meeting held last month Central P rov i n c i a l C o u n c i l l o r S.B.Ratnayake had said the closure of the road was affecting the tourism industry. Former Mayor Mahinda Dodamgoda also said that the site had become a popular tourist destination and the tour operators were facing hard times after the closure of the road.
However, Nuwara Eliya District Agriculture Director C.Babhu said that the road was closed mainly to protect the vegetation on either side of the road from reckless tour vehicle drivers.
It was agreed that the matter would be taken up with Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake to find a solution as it was affecting both the tourism industry as well as tour operators who were now without employment.