The Yala National Park was closed to tourists from yesterday until further notice due to adverse weather, Park Warden Manoj Vidyarathna said.
The closure follows heavy rains over the past two days, which has caused flooding on several roads within the park and led to the collapse of some tank banks.
Vidyarathna said these weather related issues have created risks for wildlife and visitors, prompting the decision to temporarily shut down the park for safety reasons. “Several roads in the Nimalawa area, which provide access to the park, have been flooded,” he said, adding that the situation has made it dangerous to continue operations.
As part of the closure, the Katagamuwa and Palatupana entrances to Yala Zone No. 1 were shut down, and access to the park is now restricted. The park authorities said that the safety of the wildlife and tourists is the primary concern, given the unpredictable nature of the weather. However, the sudden closure has raised concerns among those in the tourism industry. Chairman of the Yala Safari Jeep Association Tharindu Jayasinghe expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, adding that tourists who had already paid for tours have been greatly inconvenienced. Jayasinghe called upon the authorities to take better measures to communicate such changes in advance to minimise the impact on visitors.
At present, there is no official timeline for when the park will reopen, with the authorities closely monitoring the weather. Visitors planning to visit the Yala National Park are advised to stay updated on the park’s status through official announcements.
