Riverston reopens to tourists under strict restrictions after Cyclone Ditwah

By Mahesh Keerthiratne

Colombo, Jan. 30 (Daily Mirror) - The Knuckles' Riverston tourist zone, a designated World Heritage area, has been reopened to local and foreign tourists under strict restrictions following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, the Matale District Secretary, Prasanna Madanayake, said.

The decision was taken at the Matale District Coordinating Committee meeting held under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister Gamage Dissanayake.

According to the District Secretary, access to Riverston has been restored only for light vehicles as a precautionary measure based on technical assessments and environmental considerations. The restrictions will remain in place until further notice.

He said the reopening was made possible within a short period due to the collective efforts and coordination of the Road Development Authority, the Sri Lanka Army, other relevant state institutions, and tourism service providers in the area, despite significant challenges posed by the cyclone.

The limited reopening aims to ensure the safety of tourists, control traffic congestion, and protect the fragile environment of the region. As part of the measures, heavy vehicles and large buses with two doors have been restricted, except for public passenger transport buses operating in the area.

Authorities said further decisions regarding access to the tourist zone will be taken after continuous monitoring and evaluation of road conditions and environmental factors.