Wasgamuwa National Park
The park was originally designated a game sanctuary in 1907 and then upgraded to a Strict Nature Reserve in 1938. After a period of accelerated clearing from the Mahaweli Development Project, which deprived the wildlife of its habitat, the Wasgamuwa National Park Strict Nature Reserve and a neighbouring piece of land were brought together into one unit and given National Park status on 7 August 1984 in an effort towards the conservation of biodiversity. The vegetation here is tropical dry mixed evergreen forest, with trees such as the weera, wa and endemic kaluwara ebony present. Hilly ridges of the park are covered in dense forests, as are the banks of the major rivers. Dense forests characterise the park; however, there are extensive open plains in the south-eastern and eastern parts of the park dominated by grass illuk.
23 species of mammal, 143 species of birds, 35 reptile species, 15 species of amphibian, 17 species of fish and 52 species of butterfly have been recorded in Wasgamuwa National Park. The main drawcards here are the herds of Asian elephants and the notoriously shy sloth bears, of which it's said there is a high chance of spotting them here. In addition, you may encounter leopards, golden jackals, water buffalos, slender loris, wild boars, many species of deer and even the fishing cat. Of all the bird species to be found within the park, eight are said to be endemic, such as the Yellow-fronted barbet and red-faced malkoha.
Not only known for its wildlife, but the park is also an important cultural heritage area, with the Buduruwayaya ruins located to the southwest. Dating back to the 2nd Century AD, the ruins feature a statue of the Lord Buddha reclining and some stone pillars. Other 2nd Century ruins can be found throughout the park, making it another great location for wildlife and history.