Free entrance to Dehiwala Zoo for children below 12-years on July 3

Children under 12 years of age will be given the opportunity to visit the zoo free of charge, National Zoological Gardens Director-General Tilak Premakantha said.

He told the Daily Mirror that the decision was taken to mark the eighty-seventh anniversary of the National Zoological Department.

On this day, awareness programmes will be held for visitors on the protection of animals and their living environments.

Several programmes for children to gain knowledge are to be implemented during the day.

In line with the events of the day, the lion enclosure of the zoo will also be open to the public.

"The lion enclosure was closed for repairs a long time and the lions were kept in a separate area. After repairing the lion enclosure, the lions will have a new place to live, and the area will be open for public viewing," Premakantha said. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)