• Key wildlife parks and tourist lodges resume operations following improved conditions
• Dehiwala and Pinnawala zoos reopen; Knuckles Reserve remains closed as precaution

The Department of Wildlife Conservation has decided to reopen several national parks which were closed due to the prevailing weather conditions. 

Wilpattu, Kumana, Horton Plains, Minneriya, Kaudulla and Yala (except No. VI) National Parks and their tourist lodges were closed to tourists since 28 November.

As the waterlogging in some national parks has subsided and the road network restored, necessary steps have been taken to open Kumana, Horton Plains and Section V of Yala National Park to daytime-tourists from today (1), said Director of Wildlife (Protected Areas Management) Manjula Amararatne.

The Dehiwala National Zoo and Pinnawala Zoo, which were closed for a few days to prevent possible accidents due to falling trees. The restoration of the zoos after the effects of the adverse weather conditions are now completed. Since the dangerous conditions that existed have been removed, it was decided to reopen the Dehiwala National Zoo and Pinnawala Zoo to the public from today.

Accordingly, the public will have the opportunity to visit all the institutions owned by the National Zoological Department, namely the Dehiwala Zoo, the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, the Pinnawala Zoo and the Ridiyagama Safari Park, as usual, the Director General of the National Zoological Department, Chandana Rajapaksa, has informed.

Similarly, the Conservator General of the Forest Department, M.P.S. Palamakumbura mentioned that steps have been taken to open all other parks belonging to the Forest Conservation Department to tourists, except for the Knuckles Reserve.