Sri Lanka's National Parks
Uda Walawe National Park
 Situated 170 km. South East of Colombo the Uda Walawe National Park is approximately 30,821 hectares in extent. This Park which lies within the Ratnapura and Monaragala Districts acts as the catchment to the Uda Walawe Reservoir and is located in the Dry Zone. This Park comprises grasslands and thorn scrubs and many valuable species of trees are found within it. Large herds of Elephants and Deer species such as spotted Deer, Sambhur, Barking deer and Langur, Wild Boar, Water Buffalo, Jackal are some of the prominent wild animals found in this Park and a variety of avifauna is seen.
Wasgamuwa National Park
Situated approximately 200 km. away from Colombo, the Wasgamuwa National Park lies within the Polonnaruwa and Matale Districts and have the Mahaweli river and Amban river as its eastern and western boundaries. Tropical intermediate dry mixed evergreen forest predominates its environment.
Horton Plains National Park
The Horton Plains National Park is the only National Park situated in the Hill Country and falls within the Nuwara Eliya district and is 200 km. away from Colombo. Panoramic scenic beauty of the Hill Country could be witnessed within the Park. The famous `Worlds End' is a major attraction within the Park. Endemic slender loris and endemic purple monkey are among the important animal species that could be seen in addition to sambhur, a member of the cat family etc. There are some endemic avifauna also found within this Park.
Bundala National Park
Bundala National Park is the latest addition to the National Parks and is situated 260 km. away from Colombo. All species of waterbirds resident in the country and the migrant birds inhabit this Park.
Bird Sanctuaries
The sanctuaries at Kumana 312 km. from Colombo, Wirawila 261 km. Bundala 259 km. and Kalametiya 224 km. are all lagoon locations in Sri Lanka's extreme south eastern coast. The Giant's Tank in the north western corner of the island is a huge ancient irrigation reservoir of 3,800 hectares.
The coastal sanctuaries are exotically picturesque with combinations of lagoon, swamp, river, jungle, lake and plain. Large flocks can be found here of both resident and migrant aquatic birds. The highland sanctuaries at Udawattakele 118 km. from Colombo and the Peak Wilderness 141 km. are quieter but equally picturesque with wooded hills and secluded streams and have the added bonus of rare flora such as our unique Wesak Orchid as well as numerous species of rare butterflies.
The Udawattakele Sanctuary is in the suburbs of Kandy, our picturesque and fascinating hill capital. The Peak Wilderness is situated on the slopes of Adam's Peak (Sri Pada), Sri Lanka's sacred mountain.
Elephant Orphanage
An orphanage for elephants has been set up by the department of National Zoological Gardens, at Pinnawela, 90 km. from Colombo. It was established in 1975 and several animals brought here at the inception are now mature enough for breeding, which is the ultimate aim of the institution. Entrance fees : Rs.200. Pinnawala elephant orphanage has largest captive herd in the world.
The Pinnawala elephant orphanage has not only got the largest captive herd of elephants in the entire world but it also has become the most successful elephant breeding centre, according to reports. The elephant orphanage was established in 1995 with seven orphans today has a population of sixty two. The elephant orphanage now boasts of its sixteenth birth and the second generation of births in captivity. It has become a major tourist attraction because of its uniqueness. This is an ideal site for photography, research and education on elephants as the visitor is able to observe a large herd comprised of week old babies to sixty year olds.
A state of the art zoo is under construction at Pinnawala which will be open to the public by 2003. The Department of National Zoological Gardens now maintains two farms at Pallekelle and Gonapola to meet a part of its food requirements for animals.
Contacts
Director, Department of Wild Life Conservation,
18, Gregory's Road, Colombo 7 .
Tel. 94-1-698086 fax. 94-1- 698556
National Zoological Gardens
Situated 11 km. from the Fort, the Zoo has a fine collection of animals, birds, reptiles and fish from all over the world. The aquarium is the only one of its kind in Asia and displays over 500 varieties of aquatic life. Also walk in through Aviary, Reptilium, Butterfly Park. There are daily elephant performance at 5.15 p.m. Open daily between 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. Entrance fees : Rs 90/- per adult and Rs.45/- per child.
Wild Life and Nature Protection Society
For all information on nature safaris, hiking and bird watching and advice on itineraries please contact Headquarters at Chaitiya Road, Marine Drive, Fort, Colombo.
Botanic Gardens
Sri Lanka has three beautiful Botanic Gardens - Peradeniya at an elevation of 488 metres, Hakgala at an elevation of 1,680 metres and Henarathgoda in the low country.
Natural Iron wood forest
Naamal Uyana is an extremely rare forest replanted with Ironwood Trees (Mesua ferara) in the 8th Century AD by King Dappula. The Ironwood Tree is endemic to Sri Lanka and the replanted forest is over 200 acres in extent. The area is also geologically important allowing visitors to view one of the largest Pink Quartz Mountains in Sri Lanka.
Other attractions include ancient monuments dating back to the 2nd Century AD and three surface waterways, which intriguingly disappear, and then resurface around 500 metres away in the form of water fountains!
Access
Turn from Dambulla Anuradhapura road at Madatugama Junction and proceed 6km to Andiagala Road (158 km from Colombo). The name of the village is Ulpotha
The Namal Uyana holds a rich animal and plant life with over 19 species of birds and rare species of lizards and 76 kinds of medicinal plants.
Iron wood Forest
National Iron Wood Forest is a unique forest in Sri Lanka where the Iron Wood (Mesua ferara) trees dominate the vegetation of the 238 acres of forest. It is said that during King Dappula IV’s period (8th century AD) this Iron Wood forest was created and the remaining trees are the shoots of that forest. Hence it is considered the oldest man made forest in Sri Lanka.According to botanists this is the only Iron Wood forest in the dry zone with wet zone vegetation
Among the many streams that meander through the forest, one stream intriguingly disappear out of sight only to emerge as a great fresh water fountain 500 metres away.
Pink Quartz Mountain
The main topographical feature of the forest is the Pink Quartz mountain with seven peaks. The height of the mountain is 1070 ft above sea level. Geographers believe that it was formed 4,000 million year ago and it is the only mountain of this kind in Sri Lanka.
Visitors are welcome!
You can walk through the jungle treks and climb the pink quartz mountain with or without a tracker. You can follow the path ways (created by animals) watch the birds and meet the villagers living in the vicinity. A Conservation Centre is to be constructed on an initiative of the Ceylon Tourist Board with the cooperation of local agencies and authorities concerned, for the protection of Naamal Uyana. Three trails are being developed through the forest and trained guides would take visitors on guided tours.
The guides would be from the local community in the area and Ulpathagama, a remote Village located close by which is expected to benefit a great deal with the implementation of this development program These initiatives form part of Eco-Tourism Programme and Community Development Programmes launched by the Ceylon Tourist Board.
NAAMAL UYANA DEVELOPED AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION
The Ceylon Tourist Board has initiated action to develop Naamal Uyana, located in close proximity to Kekirawa, as an attraction for both local and foreign visitors. Naamal Uyana is an extremely rare forest replanted with Ironwood Trees (Mesua feriar) in the 8th Century AD by King Dappula. The Ironwood Tree is endemic to Sri Lanka and the replanted forest is over 200 acres in extent. and three surface waterways, which intriguingly disappear, and then resurface around 500 metres away in the form of water fountains.
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