New entry route to be constructed through Handagiriya in Balangoda

The government has taken steps to construct a new entry route to the Udawalawe National Park through Handagiriya in Balangoda, under a joint project undertaken by the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, the Wildlife Conservation Department and the Sabaragamuwa University.

The catchments of Udawalawe reservoir teeming with wild elephants and other wild animals had been declared a national park in 1972. Wildlife Conservation officials said more than 900 wild elephants and more than 200 species of other wild animals, birds, amphibians and fish were found in the Udawalawe National Park.

A Senior Wildlife Conservation Official said the Udawalawe National Park was a major tourist attraction and that another entry route had been a longfelt need.

Sabaragamuwa Governor Dhamma Dissanayake, Chairman of the Weligepola Pradeshiya Sabha Kelum Priyankara Jayasinghe, Secretary to the Provincial Ministry of Tourism Chamara Bamunuarachchi, Deputy Secretary (Planning) Parakrama Piyasena, Deputy Secretary (Engineering Services ) Ajith Panagoda carried out an inspection of the project.