Yala National Park temporarily closed

Yala National Park temporarily closed

March 1, 2025   10:16 am

The Yala National Park will be closed to visitors from today (01 March) until further notice due to inclement weather conditions, warden of the park, Manoj Vidyaratne said.

The closure follows heavy rainfall over the past two days, which has caused flooding on several roads within the park and the collapse of some lake banks.

Vidyaratne explained that these weather-related issues have posed significant risks, leading to the decision to close the park for the safety of both wildlife and tourists.

As part of the closure, the Katagamuwa and Palatupana entrances to Yala Zone No. 1 have been shut.

When inquired by Ada Derana, it was reported that several roads in the Nimalawa area, which provides access to the park, are also flooded.

However, the chairman of the Yala Safari Jeep Association, Tharindu Jayasinghe, expressed concern over the decision, stating that tourists who had already paid for their visits have been inconvenienced by the abrupt closure.

Disclaimer: All the comments will be moderated by the AD editorial. Abstain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or slanderous. Please avoid outside hyperlinks inside the comment and avoid typing all capitalized comments. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by flagging them(mouse over a comment and click the flag icon on the right side). Do use these forums to voice your opinions and create healthy discourse.

Most Viewed Video Stories

Ravindra Pathmapriya assumes duties as General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways (English)

Ravindra Pathmapriya assumes duties as General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways (English)

Prioritize transport projects in 2026 Budget - President directs officials (English)

Sri Lanka to introduce new AI system to track bus data and boost efficiency (English)

Former Deputy Director of Prison Hospital Dr. Hemantha Ranasinghe arrested (English)

🔴LIVE | Ada Derana Prime Time News Bulletin

President calls for responsible youth leadership, rejects dynastic politics (English)

Sri Lanka to launch floating solar power projects to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050 (English)

No-confidence motion handed over against Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara (English)