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The Twycross Zoo in the East Midlands, UK opened its newest attraction - A Sri Lanka inspired
elephant habitat and walkway named "Uda Walawe" themed as per the Uda Walawe National Park and Elephant Sactuary in Sri Lanaka on the on Wednesday, 28 July 2010. It has been built at a cost of over £ 1 Milloin and gives the visitors an insight to the Sri Lankan Elephants in their
natural habitat as well as their interactions and reverence in the Asian Sub Continent.
 Uda Walawe is unique and of significance to all Sri Lankans in that it is one of the very few if not the very first permanent monument / experience of it kind to be built in the Western Hemisphere (Europe & Americas) themed after Sri Lanka.
Uda Walawe concept was the brainchild of Mr Vasantha Nugegoda a world renowned Zoologist and designer of Zoologcal enclosures across the world. The UK office of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau has facilitated this project from its inception and together with the Twycross Zoo
helped plan the ceremonial opening of the enclosure giving the visitors truly Sri ankan experience.
The Uda Walawe experience takes the visitors along a jungle pathway to a village class room environment where they are shown the diversity and cultural attractions of Sri Lanka. The highlight of the classroom as ceremonially dressed tusker as seen during the Peraheras (cultural
pagents) in Sri Lanka. A 'Kopi Kade' (traditional Sri Lankam Village shop), a traditional Sri Lankan farmers hut, a liiy filled lake with an Oruwa (Sri Lankan Boat) and replica of Lord Ganesh that show the reverernce of the elepahnts augements the wild grass laden walk way of the
elephant enclosure.
His Excellency Justice Nihal Jayasinghe -Sri Lankan High Commisioner for the United Kingdom opened the walkway by unveiling a commemorative plaque, lighting a ceremonial oil lamp,and leading the guests along the new walkway. Sri Lankan Drummers and a troupe of Kandyan dancers who
performed at the opening ceremony and mesmurized the crowds with the island's ancient dances.
The opening marked the launch of a unique zoological and cultural attraction in the United Kingdom. Most Zoo's have themed elephant habitats which reflect Thailand, Burma, Vietnam or India. Twycross Zoo is the first in the world to theme a Sri Lankan elephant habitat.
 "Uda Walawe" will promote the conservation of the Asian elephants and act as a shop window for crucial wildlife conservation programmes in Sri Lanka. "Uda Walawe" is the name of one of Sri Lanka's national parks, in part set up to provide a sanctuary for many wild animals.
Approximately three hundred elephants are believed to permanently reside there. The sanctuary is also home to water buffalo, water monitor lizards, sambar deer, monkeys and the occasional leopard. It is an important site for unique bird species. Sensitive and well managed
eco-tourism is an important source of income for local people in Sri Lanka and provides an incentive to continue to protect the wildlife. The National Park is also the first in Sri Lanka to run a reintroduction programme for orphaned elephants back to the wild, so far they have
successfully reintroduced over 15 elephants.
Suzanne Boardman, Director of Twycross Zoo said, "We are glad that our visitors will be able to experience a taste of Sri Lanka, as well as learning about the cultural and historical aspects of this wonderful country, including the important role that the domesticated elephant has
had on the country. Our aim is for this exhibit to forge strong links between the UK and Sri
Lanka, particularly with regard to tourism. The opening of this new exhibit will help promote the need to conserve this important species globally and highlight the importance of elephants in Sri Lanka. It is our ambition to encourage visits to the wildlife areas of Sri Lanka and
to share with our visitors the magical aura of Sri Lanka. It is our desire to create a little piece of Sri Lanka in the UK and an opportunity for visitors to learn about and also visit Sri Lanka to see how beautiful this country is."
We are delighted to be associated with the Twycross Zoo and the Uda Walawe project. It gives the visitor an authentic and bite size experience of Sri Lanka that will insite then to visit Sri Lanka and explore our beautiful country;, said Sanjika Perera, Director of Sri Lanka
Tourism in UK. The United Kingdom is a very important source market for Sri Lanka Tourism and the Uda Walawe enclosure will certainly help generate interest re Sri Lankan elephants as well as the destination a whole encourging the visitors to venture to the interior of the country,
he added.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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