The Kiralawila area off the Nilwala River in the Thihagoda Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) division should be developed as a tourist zone, Thihagoda PS members suggest.
According to Thihagoda PS member Lasantha Sanjeewa, this region, which has already been gazetted as a natural sanctuary by the Government, spans over 300 hectares. However, no initiative was taken during past few years to develop this area as a tourist zone. He requested the Government to take measures to develop this area to become a leading tourist zone.
Proposed development activities in the area include construction of agricultural dams in swampy and marshy lands, cultivation of mangroves and various other plant species, erection of a crocodile park, a public holiday resort with adequate space, rest rooms for local and foreign tourists, hotels with indigenous food varieties such as organic vegetables and buffalo curd, cadjan, thatched huts with stalls, aquariums of inland fish with sale centers and ancient houses depicting agricultural and cultural identities, and the launch of employment-generating projects.
“Through the acceleration of the development work in the Kiralawila area, the unemployment problem in the Thihagoda PS division could be minimised. The proposed project would also be an income-generating avenue for the Thihagoda PS,” he added.