NATIONAL PARKS

Yala National Park

Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Actually it consists of five blocks. The blocks have individual names also, like Ruhuna National Park for the (best known) block 1 and Kumana National Park or 'Yala East' for the adjoining area. It is situated in the southeast region of the country, and lies in Southern Province and Uva Province. The park covers 979 square kilometres (378 sq mi) and is located about 300 kilometres (190 mi) from Colombo. Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and, along with Wilpattu it was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka, having been designated in 1938. The park is best known for its variety of wild animals. It is important for the conservation of Sri Lankan Elephants and aquatic birds.

Yala also famous for its elephant population, seen in small and large herds, spotted deer, sambhur, barking deer, Monkey, Wild Buffalo, wild Boer, Sloth Bear and inumerable varieties of Birds, endemic and migratory.Peacock is the most famous of the birds at Yala. 

Wasgamuwa National Park

Wasgamuwa National Park is a natural park in Sri Lanka. It was declared to protect and to make a refuge for the displaced wild animals during the Mahaweli Development Project in 1984 and is one of the four National Parks designated under the Project. Originally it was designated as a nature reserve in 1938, and then in the early 1970's the area was regraded as a strict nature reserve.Wasgamuwa is one of protected areas where Sri Lankan Elephants can be seen in large herds. It is also one of the Important Bird Areas in Sri Lanka. 

Minneriya National Park

Circling the beautiful Minneriya Tank the green surroundings are strkungly different to the arid landscape. Being part of the elephant corrior which joins up with Kaudulla and Wasgomuwa you are sure to sight elephants, especially during the dry season June-September when the water filles tank attracts them. A variety of bird life could be spotted including some endemic to Sri Lanka.