IntelScoops

Lankagama, Sri Lanka – July 31, 2025

Tourists visiting the Sinharaja Forest Reserve through the Lankagama entrance have expressed growing concerns about the lack of basic facilities, which they say diminishes their overall experience in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Sinharaja Forest Reserve, spanning over 11,000 hectares across the Ratnapura, Galle, and Matara districts, is renowned for its rich biodiversity and pristine natural environment. In recent years, Lankagama has emerged as a key access point for visitors seeking to explore parts of the reserve, including popular trails leading to Sinhagala Peak and nearby waterfalls.

However, tourists report that essential infrastructure is missing at this gateway. The absence of clean restrooms, rest areas, adequate signage, and first aid facilities has become a common complaint among visitors. Many also highlight the difficulty faced by local communities, who are unable to fully benefit from the increasing tourist numbers due to insufficient support and development.

Local residents, primarily engaged in agriculture and small-scale businesses, have voiced their concerns about the imbalance between rising visitor numbers and the lack of improvements in public amenities and services. Although some guesthouses and small shops provide refreshments and local products, the overall lack of infrastructure presents challenges for both tourists and locals alike.

Officials from the Forest Department acknowledge the shortcomings but attribute them to limited resources and staffing constraints, which have hampered efforts to maintain and enhance facilities around the reserve.

Conservationists and tourism experts emphasize the need for a coordinated approach involving government authorities, local communities, and private sector stakeholders to develop sustainable infrastructure. Such measures, they argue, are vital to improving visitor experiences while protecting the ecological integrity of Sinharaja.

As Sri Lanka continues to promote eco-tourism and nature-based travel, balancing environmental preservation with visitor needs remains a critical priority at Sinharaja’s Lankagama entrance.