Lanka Sites

An expedited project to renovate 200 tanks in sanctuaries and parks has been initiated aiming habitat enrichment, Wildlife Conservation Department Director General Dr Chandra Wansa Pathiraja told the Daily News yesterday. He said that 50 tanks which need renovation have already been identified and estimates are being made to start the work.

He said that the Department hopes to complete the renovation work of all 200 tanks within this year. It is carrying out investigations at regional level to identify damaged tanks. Renovation of tanks will be done covering all parks and sanctuaries in the country. The Agrarian Services and Wildlife Ministry is funding the project. Most of the tanks inside parks and sanctuaries have subjected to sedimentation. Water retention capacity in them has decreased as a result. Measures will be taken to remove the mud in tanks to ensure enough water for wild animals during the drought season.

The biodiversity in the parks and sanctuaries is affected when there is no sufficient water since species such as birds do not come, he explained. “Most of these tanks have not been renovated for many years. Many of them had also been closed for the past three decades” he said. Under this projects tanks in parks and sanctuaries such as Bellanvila-Atthidiya, Horagolla, Maduru Oya, Minneriya, Wasgamuwa, Wilpatthu, Thapowa, Udawalawe, Lunugamvehera, Kumana, Randenigala and Yala will be renovated.

@ Daily News by Disna Mudalige