This
national park is situated in the southeast part of the country close to
Tissamaharama. It is situated in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. The park has a
diversity of flora and fauna. The park is currently divided into 5 blocks.
Yale has a surface area of approximate 1259 square kilometers and the
distance between Colombo and Yala is around 305 kilometres.
Gal
Oya national park:
The
Gal Oya national park is situated north of Yala, in the east part of the
country. The park was established in 1954 by the Gal Oya Development
Board, mainly to protect the catchment area of the ‘Senanayake Samudra’
Reservoir. In 1965 the park was handed over to the department of
Wildlife Conservation. The Senanayake Samudra (lake) is the situated of
this park. Gal Oya National Park has a surface area from approximately
60000 hectares.
Wilpattu
national park:
The
Wilpattu national park is situated in the west part of the country/ This
national park is one of the biggest national parks in Sri Lanka. The
Wilpattu national park has a surface area of approximately 131000 hectares. The
park was in the past closed due to the war. The distance between Colombo and
Wilpattu is around 183 kilometres. Wilpattu national park is reachable via
Puttalam or Anuradhapura.
Bundala
Bird Sanctuary:
Bundala
Bird Sanctuary is situated in the south part of the country close to Hambantota
and Yala national park. Bundala Bird Sanctuary has a surface are of 62
square kilometer. Bundala Bird Sanctuary is also known as a bird reserve.
Sinharaja
Forest reserve:
This
is also known as Sinharaja Rain Forest. This is the only rain forest is Sri
Lanka. Sinharaja Forest is to reach by highway A17. Sinharaja rainforest
is situated south of Ratnapura. Sinharaja Forest was declared as forest on
1875.
Peak
Wilderness Sanctuary:
Peak
Wilderness Sanctuary is situated north of Ratnapura. Sri Pada (Adams Peak) is
situated in this Sanctuary. Peak Wilderness Sanctuary is stretch 40 kilometres
out. In this Sanctuary there live animals like; black eagles, blue magpies,
leopards, deer and jackals.
Hakgala
National Reserve:
Hakgala
National Reserve is situated south of Nuwara Eliya. There live here species
animals and birds.
Horton
Plains National Park:
Horton
Plains National Park is located south of Nuwara Eliya and close to Ohiya. In
this park there are two mountains, irigalpotta (2395m) and Totapola (2359m),
situated. Both mountains are situated on the edge of the plateau. Horton Plains
contain some attractions like World’s End and Bakers Falls. Horton Plains contains
a wide variety of flora and fauna.
Uda
Walawe National Park:
This
park is situated about 170 kilometres southeast of Colombo. In this park there lives
a diversity of animals. This national park has a surface area of approximately 30000
hectare. In this park the Uda Walawe reservoir is situated.
Minneriya
National Park:
Minneriya
National Park is a park located between Habarana and Polonnaruwa and has a surface
are of 8890 hectare.
The
Minneriya tank, built in the third century AD, is situated in this park.
Kaudulla
National Park:
The
Kaudulla National Park (opened in 2002) is close to the Habarana- Trincomalee road
and the Gal Oya Junction. The park is built around the Kaudulla tank. The park established
a 6656 hectare elephant corridor between Somawathie Chaitiya Sanctuary
and
Minneriya National Park.
Adam's
Peak / Sri Pada:
Adam’s
peak or Sri Pada is a mountain situated 40 kilometre northeast of Ratnapura and
is situated in the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary. This mountain is one of
biggest mountains in Sri Lanka with a height of 2243 meter above sea
level. On the top there is a footprint situated which is important to all the
religions of Sri Lanka. The different religions or philosophies believe
that the footprint is from Boeddha, Shiva, St Thomas or Adam. The top of
Adam’s peak can be reached from different directions. The best period to climb
this mountain is from November until April.
Pinnawela
Elephant Orphanage:
This
is an orphanage for wounded or abandoned baby Elephants. It is situated in the
north of Kegalle, 80 kilometres of Colombo. This orphanage can be visited
daily. Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage was opened on 17 February 1975.