- The Pinnawala Zoo which was opened recently is becoming immensely popular among the local tourists day by day. This zoo located in close proximity to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage has been designed as an open range zoo. It is also the maiden experience of its kind for Sri Lankan visitors. The proposal made by the Minister of Tourism and Sports Hon. Navin Dissanayake to establish a small Mammal Breeding Centre and a Bio Park at the Pinnawala Zoo for conserving the local animal species, was approved by the Cabinet, as a matter of policy.