The Department of Wildlife Conservation has launched a formal investigation following reports that tourist bungalows inside Kumana National Park have been reserved online and used for purposes other than wildlife viewing.
In a statement, the department said that under Sections 3(b) and 2(c) of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, the Director General is authorized to issue permits to individuals to enter national parks strictly for the purpose of observing wildlife and flora. The law does not grant permission for commercial activities or any other unrelated purposes within national parks.
Authorities said information had been received indicating that tourist bungalows located within Kumana National Park had been booked online and used for other programs.
As a result, online reservations for tourist bungalows inside the park have been temporarily suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
The department said that following the inquiry, it plans to introduce a more suitable mechanism to facilitate online reservations for tourists while ensuring compliance with the law and the protection of the park’s wildlife and environment. (Newswire)