Sri Lanka is accelerating the rollout of digital ticketing for national park entry, a response to rising tourist numbers that authorities say are putting pressure on wildlife habitats.
The work is being carried out on the instructions of Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody, who has also directed officials to launch a sustainable wildlife conservation and tourism management programme for the parks, NewsFirst reported.
The congestion problem
Between 400 and 600 safari jeeps enter Minneriya and Kaudulla national parks each day. Authorities have raised concern about what that volume of traffic does to animal habitats and the surrounding environment, and a team of experts is to carry out a scientific study of the situation.
Minneriya and Kaudulla sit within the north-central dry zone and draw heavy seasonal demand from visitors hoping to see the elephant gatherings the area is known for.
Measures planned
Several changes are under consideration or already in train:
- A unified ticketing system covering both Minneriya and Kaudulla, so visitors can obtain permits for either park from a single point.
- A new entrance near Sigiriya-Pekkulam, discussed with park authorities, intended to better regulate jeep traffic inside Minneriya.
- Traffic routing that would send vehicles entering Minneriya after 2.00 p.m. out through the Batu Oya exit to ease congestion.
- A digital ticketing platform for Hurulu Eco Park, operating closer to urban centres to make access more convenient.
No date has been announced for any of the measures, and NewsFirst did not report what the digital platform will cost or who will build it.
The push follows Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s proposal last week for low-cost tickets at lesser-known sites to draw visitors away from the busiest parks — a different route to the same congestion problem. Premadasa also pointed to a shortage of wildlife veterinarians, with 17 in service against an establishment of 33.
