Sri Lanka shuts national park due to drought

Colombo Sep 1 (IANS) Sri Lankan authorities on Friday shut down one of the largest national parks in the island nation for two months due to a worsening drought.

Wildlife Conservation Department spokesperson Hasini Sarathchandra said the Yala National Park a huge tourist attraction would be closed from Friday reports Xinhua news agency.

"The park will reopen on October 31 provided there are rains in this period " she said.

Situated in Sri Lanka s southeast Yala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and became a national park in 1938.

It is Sri Lanka s second largest national park and home to some of the world s biggest concentration of leopards elephants sloth bears sambars jackals spotted dears peacocks and crocodiles.

The park attracts more than 100 000 foreign tourists each year and is a key revenue source.

--IANS
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