The Wilpattu Sanctuary will be re-opened for tourists at the end of this month. Hence, the infrastructure facilities of this sanctuary covering 131,667 hectares are being prepared for tourists by the Department of Wild Life.

At present, the park is controlled by the security forces and the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC). The wildlife officers are readying themselves to take up the challenge of protecting Wilpattu’s diverse wildlife.

Wilpattu is one of the oldest national parks of the country. It was first declared as a sanctuary in 1905 and its conservation status was elevated to that of a National Park in 1938. Areas to the North were also declared as Wilpattu Sanctuary in 1947 and remain an extension to the National Park.

Wilpattu has always been a fantastic experience for wildlife lovers, the key attraction being its leopards. The park also has a large population of bigger elephants.