Yala opened to only foreign tourists! An enormous part of the Sri Lankan southeast corner is Yala National Park and this park that stretches from the jungles inland to the beaches on the Indian Ocean was closed for all visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the park is now open to only foreign tourists subject to health recommendations. Manoj Vidyaratne, the caretaker of the Yala National Park speaking to News 1st said the authorities hope to open the Yala National Park to local tourists as soon as possible. I hope that the Yala National Park will become a very good tourist destination in the future after it is opened to local tourists as well, he said. The Yala National Park was opened amid allegations by the opposition led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa who claimed that the government is planning to take away 12,000 acres From the Yala National Park, Block 1 for unknown purposes. Reliable sources have also confirmed that illegal roadways are to be constructed through the National Park up to Akasa Chaitya, he tweeted.