Sri Lankan wildlife authorities have reopened two famous wildlife parks in the Southeast region of the country that remained closed for four years due to the threat of terrorism, said the Sri Lankan Tourism Promotion Bureau.

The two sanctuary sites, Kumana National Park and Lahugala National Park, a wildlife nature reserve are now open to the public.

Kumana National Park, a renowned bird sanctuary contiguous with the Yala National Park is located 391 km southeast of the capital Colombo.

Lahugala National Park, a habitat for wild elephants is located at Heda Oya, in the Eastern Province, 318 km east of Colombo. The two sanctuaries have been closed since 2005 due to the presence of the LTTE terrorists in those areas. The Wildlife Department has decided to open the parks after they received security clearance after the end of the war.

The two parks are a main eco-tourism attraction.

“Sri Lanka is famed for its jungles containing rare orchids, delicious fruits and bountiful shrubs and trees. This is a land where travelers can come face to face with a wild elephant, admire the savage grace of a leopard from afar, or marvel at a sea turtle flicking sand protectively over the eggs just laid on the beach,” said Heba Al Ghais Al Mansoori, Middle East director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

“There are no less than 13 national parks in Sri Lanka and over 100 additional protected areas,” she added.

The elephant is Sri Lanka’s national icon animal and can be found in several national parks, especially where fresh young grass springs up around the edges of the man-made lakes. Other creatures that can be seen in the wild include the shy, solitary leopard - the Yala National Park is thought to have one of the highest densities of this graceful predator in the world.

There are also four species of deer and the fierce, but rarely encountered, sloth bear. Buffalo range across the grassland areas and visitors may also spot wild boar, giant squirrels and several species of monkey, including the appealing large eyed loris, and troops of macaques.

Apart from all the wildlife and nature, Colombo offers all the attractions of a busy capital city, with star-rated hotels, shopping malls and a vast array of restaurants and clubs that cater for all tastes. The central highlands feature tea estates, and are also home to Mount Pidurutalagala, Sri Lanka’s highest mountain.

Visitors can also enjoy golf, and other adventure sports such as white water rafting, sailing, mountain biking and hot air balloon rides.-TradeArabia News Service