Children under 12 will be admitted free to all four sites run by the Department of National Zoological Gardens on October 1, to mark World Children’s Day.
The free admission applies at the Dehiwala National Zoo, the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, the Pinnawala Zoo and the Ridiyagama Safari Park, Hiru News reported.
The department said a number of special features and activities have been arranged for children visiting on the day.
What was not specified
The report did not say whether accompanying adults pay the normal admission charge, whether proof of age is required, or whether the arrangement extends to foreign visitors. Nor did it give opening hours for the day, which differ between the four sites under normal operation.
Families planning a visit should check directly with the site, particularly at Pinnawala, where feeding and bathing times govern when the elephants are visible.
Context
October 1 falls at the end of the week that Cabinet has designated National Children’s Day Week, running from September 25 to October 1. The four zoological sites are the state’s main public wildlife attractions and among the few large-scale outings priced within reach of most families; Dehiwala alone draws crowds well into five figures on holiday dates.
A note on sourcing: this was carried by a single verified newsroom at the time of writing. No announcement had been posted on a government portal that could be independently date-checked, and the details above should be treated as provisional until the department confirms them.
