Mangled In Yala

By Nirmala Kannangara

The entrance to Yala National Park, Kulu Safari camp site and A jeep belonging to the Independent Jeep Services

Camp Operators in Yala National Park have come under attack from jeep drivers in the presence of foreign tourists bringing into focus a new dimension in the country’s hospitality industry.
Eight employees attached to the Kulu Safari, Leopard Safari and Mahoora Safari have come under severe attack by the Independent Jeep Services (IJS) drivers, who have claimed that they have the backing of Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa according to the victims. The reason behind the attack was that IJS is against the tent operators taking their guests  in their own jeeps. Out of the eight, Sajith Buddhika, Manager, Leopard Safari has received severe head injuries and his right ear drum has been damaged and is being treated at the surgical ward of the Hambantota Base Hospital.
“I dropped a group of British tourists at the park entrance and was waiting outside for another two groups – USA and Spanish families who were on their way. I was on the phone talking to them when a group around 25-30 jeep drivers came and dragged me from the jeep and assaulted me and the driver of the other jeep waiting with a shock absorber. I felt faintish. I was beaten by Weerakoon alias mole mahaththaya,” said Sajith Buddhika. Speaking from his hospital bed Buddhika said, “I started vomiting when I went to lodge a complaint at the Tissamaharamaya police but did not take any notice as there were no external injuries. While I was resting at the camp my situation turned worse around 11 pm and I was rushed to the Tissamaharamaya hospital and was transferred to Hambantota hospital. The ENT doctor has requested the JMO report to start treatments”. Surgical ward doctor at the Hambantota hospital did not wish to make any comment in this regard. However, this was confirmed by Sunil – a guide attached to the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC). “After a tour I came to the ‘freedom café’ outside the main entrance to have a cup of tea. Seeing Buddhika in his jeep in front of the café, I went and spoke a few words with him and came back to have tea. While having tea I saw a group of around 25 jeep drivers dragging Buddhika from his jeep and assaulting him with an iron rod. Then came Indika in his jeep and he too was dragged out of his vehicle and assaulted mercilessly,” said Sunil.
Sunil has later lodged a complaint at the Tissamaharamaya police on August 27, 2012. Meanwhile Manjula, the Naturalists who was in charge of the Kulu Safari at the time of the incident described how the attackers mentioned that it was Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa who wanted to assault the camp operators.
“Two of my colleagues and I went to Chaaya Wild to drop some of our clients and this happened when we were about to leave. One Tharindu a jeep driver who assaulted us told that it was the Speaker that wanted us assaulted and chased  away from Yala. I was severely beaten on my shoulder and it is still swollen and gives a lot of pain. When we wanted to proceed towards the park the attackers obstructed our way claiming that we are not allowed to get back to the park and wanted us to go back to Colombo. Then we went towards the Tissamaramaya police but could not stop as there were many other jeep drivers near the police. Then we went to Lunugamvehera police and the OIC Tissamaharamaya came there and escorted us to his police station. I lodged a complaint  on August 24 stating what the jeep drivers said about the Speaker’s involvement,” said Manjula.
Meanwhile Javana Fernando Managing Director Kulu Safari said that although this issue was boiling up for a long time, he never thought that the jeep drivers would take law on to their hand.
“I am surprised as to why these drivers mentioned the Speaker’s name which cannot be true. When I met MP Namal Rajapaksa on Thursday, he gave an assurance that these types of thing will not be allowed to happen and that he will look into this matter. According to my Naturalist Manjula, this has occurred around 11 am on Friday August 24. I am in this business over the past 9 ½ years and this is the only place where the jeep drivers want to monopolize operation. I am doing safari camps even at Wasgamuwa, Wilpattu and Udawalawe national parks but those jeep drivers are very cordial and helpful to us,” said Fernando.
Fernando said that all the camp operators have obtained the necessary approvals from the Tourist Board and from the Department of Wild Life Conservation (DWLC). “We are an independent unit who do not depend on any one. We take part in all travel fairs in the world and promote Sri Lanka as a destination. We are helping the tourist board’s plan to get those magical 2.5 million tourists to the country in 2016. But if things happen in this way will the tourist come to the country?” added Fernando.
According to Fernando, the attackers assume that the camp operators are eating in to their business and said that he is ready to take legal action against the attackers. “I am going to send my boys to the police for a further complaints with the names of those who were involved in this attack. These jeep drivers have told my employees that we can continue in camp operation but cannot take the foreign guests in our jeeps instead they want to provide that service. They have further warned them not to ignore their cautioning failing which all of the drivers will be  put into a jeep and burnt alive,” said Fernando.
However, Fernando said that he will not stop operation in Yala due to the threats and added that the police, army, STF, DWLC and the Defence Ministry were extremely helpful to bring the tense situation under control.
“When my Naturalist wanted to go to Tissamaramaya for marketing on Saturday, he has  turned back asking not to leave the park but to be inside. Then he had to get the army’s intervention to do his marketing. These jeeps are parked all over- near Chaaya Wild, Debarawewa, Yodakandiya and Yala junction closer to the Tissamaharamaya Rest House. I am planning to speak to the Speaker to inform as to how his name has been dragged by the jeep drivers,” said Fernando.
According to Fernando, the camp operators pay US$ 50-60 per foreign client per night and VAT to the government and added that they have received the approvals from the DWLC to keep 14 guests per night.
“Generally we are allowed to keep only 10 guests but we have received the approvals to keep 14 at a time. In addition to the guests we can keep eight staff members. I have four jeeps and my clients are mainly from UK, Switzerland, Germany, USA, Finland, Belgium, Australia, China and a few from India. If things continue in this manner in future it would adversely affect the tourism industry,” said Fernando.
Managing Director Mahoor Luxury Tented Safari Camp Anuruddha Bandara said that his naturalist and a driver have been assaulted by the jeep drivers on Thursday 23 evening along the Situlpawwa Road. “Although my employees came under attack, they did not lodge a police complaint as we want to settle the matter amicably. The attackers have told my two boys that it was Chamal and Namal Rajapaksa that wanted them chased away. How can these drivers say that they want to take my clients in their jeeps? They are my clients and it was I who travelled abroad and got the bookings. It is unfair for this association to make such a demand,” said Bandara.
Meanwhile Mahoor Camp Manager Ishan has met representatives of the IJS on August 24 morning to have a dialogue to settle the issue. “Around 40 jeep drivers and jeep owners came for the meeting. When I tried to explain to them that these attacks in the presence of tourists would damage the tourism industry, one of the jeep owners mole mahaththaya came up to me shouting that they cannot allow outsiders to earn money in Tissamaharamaya. He further said that neither he nor the IJS want to talk to me as they are not scared of any one other than the Rajapaksas,” said Ishan.
According to Ishan, their jeeps were not allowed to go out of the park to do marketing.
“Even the company that provides us jeeps has come under pressure. He has been asked not to give jeeps to us. We give business over 5-6 million to Tissamaharamaya per month. For the jeeps alone we pay over 15 million. So how can they claim that we do not give business to the people in the village,” said Ishan.
Noel Rodrigo Chairman Leopard Safari meanwhile said that the IJS has no authority to attack on camp operators as they are registered companies and pay taxes to the government.
“We promote the country at travel fairs and bring large number of tourists by promoting wildlife. Our work is gre-atly appreciated around the world and receives bookings 6-12 months in advance. There was a time that tourists travelled to India and Africa to see Leopards. It was I who could convince tourists that there are many leopards in Sri Lanka and could divert their attention towards our country. When incidents like these are happening in the presence of our foreign guests what would happen to the country’s tourism industry,” claimed Rodrigo. According to Rodrigo, the jeep drivers have chased away the USA and Spanish families by not allowing them to enter the park. “When these two parties arrived, my naturalist and driver who were waiting for them outside the entrance were under attack. Seeing these two parties, the jeep drivers have chased them away. So my employees had to send them to The Safari at Tissamaharamaya. Later around 7.30 pm they were brought back to the camp under the army and police protection. These goons went to the extent of locking the Yala gates preventing us from leaving the park or bringing down our guests,” said Rodrigo.
He further said that five of his foreign agents from UK and Australia contacted him to find out as to what was going on at Yala.
“After the complaints were made, one of the attackers- Tharindu was arrested but within few hours he was released. I do not know whether he was released by the police or by a magistrate,” he added.
However, refuting allegations Weerakoon alias mole mahaththaya owner of 30 safari jeeps said that none of the camp operators or their employees were attacked by the IJS members as they do not want to resort to any unwanted issues.
“I am a big businessman and do not want to assault people. I only went there to solve the matter,” he said.
He further said that none of the Rajapaksa family members wanted to chase away these camp operators but they had to take a decision of their own. “True we are only scared of the Rajapaksas. We are thugs in Tissamaharamaya and would not allow outsiders to earn money in this          village. What ever the businesses that are taking place have to be done by us and the income should come to our people not to outsiders,” he added.
Meanwhile Deputy Director (Eco Tourism) DWLC, P.M. Dharmathileka said that his department cannot take any action against anyone since these incidents have occurred out side the national park. “We need both these parties to promote tourism. But the jeep drivers could have acted in a more responsible manner,” said Dharmathileka. According to him, most of the jeep drivers do not posses a valid driving license and the jeeps are not up to standard to take foreign tourists.
“I got the two parties to the DWLC head office for a discussion. We will be imposing strict rules for both these parties from October 1, and the jeeps that do not have the valid licenses and are not up to standard will be prevented from carrying foreigners. We have to be thankful to these camp operators as it was they who brought tourists to the country when tourists did not visit during the war. In addition we will see as to whether these jeep drivers abide by the speed limits in future,” said Dharmathileka.

Chamal Rajapaksa Unavailable….