Picketing campaign at Zoo put off

By Ifham Nizam

Dehiwela National Zoological Gardens Trade Union yesterday decided to postpone a protest scheduled for today after the Ministry Secretary agreed to meet them to discuss a plan to shift the zoo to Piliyandala.

The meeting would be held on August 31, an official said.

Annually, the Dehiwela zoo attracts more than 1.4 million visitors and generates nearly Rs. 175 million in revenue.

The Island

learns that the Ministry of Tourism has appointed an Expert Committee to provide input on shifting the National Zoological Gardens from Dehiwala to Piliyandala.

The committee’s report should be submitted in the next few weeks.

According to Ministry Secretary S. Hettiarachchi a 70-acre plot of land has been identified in the Piliyandala are.

He said the government was keen on shifting the animals to a more spacious place. Special attention had been paid to the proposal made to move the Dehiwala Zoo to the Kahapola in Piliyandala, according to Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga.

The Minister has gone on record as saying that the practice of watching animals locked in cages should be abandoned.

He made these remarks at a recent discussion with officials of the Department of Zoology and Botanical Gardens, at his ministry.