The government has decided to open all five blocks of the Yala National Park to tourists. The Yala National Park with the extent of 126,000 hectares of land consists of 5 zones. It is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka.

The  Minister of Agrarian Services and Wild Life S.M. Chandrasena who toured the Yala National park on June 27 said that initial work has been launched to develop this zone and under this programme Pilinnawa, Udapottatama, Pallepottama and Walas-kema areas will be developed. 

Construction of a new bridge across the Kumbukkanoya to facilitate the tourists to walk to Ampara from Panama and Kumana is also being planed out, the minister further added. With the increase in local and foreign tourists visiting the Wild Life parks in Sri Lanka, the infrastructure facilities required by the tourists will also be developed. The Sri Lankan ambassador to Maldives Dickson Dela also participated in the inspection tour.

The Minister toured the Yala National Park from the Palapatuna entrance in the south. The new entrance from the Galge side of the Ruhunu (Yala) National Park was opened for visitors by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in February this year. The other new entrance to the Yala National Park from the Katagamuwa side would be opened, Government Info Department reports.