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Tension between registered and non-registered safari jeep owners at Yala
Colombo, March 20 (Daily Mirror) - A heated argument broke out between registered and non-registered safari jeep owners in front of the Yala National Park, as the Wildlife Department continues its annual practice of registering new jeep batches, the Yala Safari Jeep Owners' Association (YSJOA) said.
An official from the association told the Daily Mirror that a total of 551 safari jeeps have been registered with the department. An additional 40 new safari jeeps are awaiting registration, further increasing the number of registered vehicles.
"All 551 registered safari jeeps, which have been assigned identification numbers to be displayed on their vehicles, are permitted to enter the park without a tracker. However, there is a shortage of trackers to be assigned to new safari jeeps. As a result, a heated argument erupted between the new jeep owners and the registered jeep owners, leading to a decision to remove all identification stickers from registered safari jeeps," the official said.
He said the department has a limited number of trackers, and some are reportedly demanding fees from safari jeep drivers to guide them inside the park. According to national park regulations, trackers should be provided free of charge along with the safari jeeps. Due to the shortage, the park administration has allowed trained and registered safari jeep drivers to enter the park without trackers, granting them a special license, he said.
"As per park regulations, safari jeep drivers who have not undergone proper training are not permitted to enter the park without a tracker," the park official said.
However, the 40 newly added safari jeep drivers entered the park without trackers, which led to the heated confrontation at the entrance. These drivers blocked the main gate, preventing registered jeeps from entering. They demanded the park administration cancel the registration of existing safari jeeps and allow all jeeps to enter without restrictions.
"None of the existing safari jeep associations have engaged in sabotage activities. Our responsibility is to resolve issues through discussions with the park administration," a senior YSJOA official said.
The association is planning to meet the Wildlife Minister with a set of proposals to address these concerns. Due to these ongoing issues, tourists faced significant inconvenience.
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