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Park wardens get vehicles from ADB

By Risidra Mendis

In response to a shortage of vehicles for protected area management and wildlife conservation projects, seven double cabs were handed over to park wardens recently.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader, Environment and Natural Resources Minister, Rukman Senanayake said, "at a time when the government is short of funds, it is a great help that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has provided the funds for a worthy cause."

According to the Minister, the seven double cabs were handed over to park wardens of the Bundala, Uda Walawe, Minneriya, Ritigala, Wasgamuwa, Horton Plains and the Peak Wilderness parks. The seven national parks come under the ADB funded project.

The Minister went on to say that the shortage of vehicles in national parks had been a growing concern for some time. The old vehicles from the seven parks will be handed over to the parks not coming under the ADB project.

"When the original signing of the ADB project took place, many people had a negative attitude. Some people even spread false stories that this project would not be a success. These people had no idea what the project was all about," the Minister said.

According to the Minister, today, the public can see the benefits the country has gained by the ADB project.

"If we work as a team, we can solve many of the existing problems with regard to wildlife," the Minister said.

The keys to the double cabs were handed over to the respective park wardens by the Minister at a ceremony held at the Wildlife Department recently.

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