Those who left the wildlife sector are abandoning safari vehicles and causing us severe problems - Accusations from Kumana safari vehicle drivers

The Panama Safari Jeep Association alleges that a group of individuals who previously worked for the Department of Wildlife and have since left are encroaching upon the tourist safari service in Kumana National Park. This encroachment is severely impacting the livelihoods of the youth in Panama village who have traditionally been engaged in this profession. Kumana National Park, highly popular among both local and foreign tourists, is renowned for leopard sightings and as a bird paradise. Currently, approximately 40 jeeps owned by the youth of Panama village are employed in this industry.

Officials of the Kumana Jeep Association point out that the children of Panama villagers, who protected their homes, the area, and the ecosystem even during the war, have made this industry their main livelihood. However, villagers complain that recently, several individuals who left the Department of Wildlife have entered this business by deploying jeeps belonging to wealthy businessmen and doctors from outside. The association's secretary states that when they initially started this activity with only one vehicle, they did not humanely oppose it, but now they have increased that number to three jeeps, thereby impacting the economy of the regular drivers.

Furthermore, the Panama Safari Association alleges that while ordinary jeep drivers do not get opportunities to reserve tourist bungalows within Kumana Park, this group of individuals who left the Department of Wildlife can very easily reserve those accommodation facilities based on their old service connections. They state that due to such misconduct, their profession is facing a severe crisis, and they have taken steps to inform the District Secretary and the Assistant Director of Wildlife about this matter.

Commenting on this matter, Mr. Prasantha Wimaladasa, Assistant Director of Wildlife (Eastern Province), stated that no officer currently serving in the Department of Wildlife is involved in the safari jeep business. While acknowledging reports that a group of individuals who left the service are doing this, he emphasized that the internal issues of the jeep drivers should be resolved by themselves, and that the reservation of tourist bungalows is a transparent process that occurs solely online.