National Parks under Wildlife Dept purview says President

Raja WAIDYASEKERA, Tissamaharama spl corr

Everything in National Parks should come under the purview of the Wildlife Department. Officials of the Department committed an offence by allowing the private sector to set up camp sites at the Yala National Park, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. Addressing the special Hambantota District Development Committee meeting at the administration complex at Siribopura, Hambantota yesterday, President Rajapaksa said these camp sites have now become permanent camp sites and the environment of the National Park has been polluted in alarming proportions according to information he gathered.

The President said the administration complex at Siribopura, Hambantota provides all services to the public under one roof.

He said a large number of state and semi - state sector institutions scattered all over Hambantota have been relocated at the new administration complex. President Rajapaksa said according to information he received, only 50 percent of the administration complex remains vacant.

The President ordered the authorities to relocate the other institutions in the administration complex by January 2013.

MP Namal Rajapaksa in his welcome speech said Hambantota district is undergoing a period of transition due to the mammoth development activities launched on the President’s initiative.

He hailed the steps taken by the President to bring to the political arena young people in the district to enable them to participate in the development activities.