Lunugamvehera National Park

Lunugamvehera National Park in Sri Lanka was declared in 1995, with the intention of protecting the catchment area of the Lunugamvehera reservoir and wildlife of the area. The national park is an important habitat for water birds and elephants. The catchment area is vital to maintain the water levels of the five tanks in the downstream of Krindi Oya and wetland characteristics of Bundala National Park. This national park also serves as a Wildlife Corridor for elephants to migrate between Yala National Park and Udawalawe National Park. The national park is situated 261 km southwest from Colombo. After being closed because of the Sri Lankan civil war, the national park is now open to the general public.

Lunugamvehera is in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka; therefore the park is exposed to annual drought relieved by the South Western Monsoon. The elevation of the park is 91 metres (299 ft). Out of 23,498 hectares of total land area 14 percent that is 3283 hectares is land under the reservoir. Another 50 hectares are two smaller reservoirs. Nearby Thanamalvila area receives a 1,000 millimetres (39 in) of annual rainfall. Rainfall decreases from North to South and West to East across the national park. Mean annual temperature of Lunugamvehera is 30 °C (86 °F).

The forest of Lunugamvehera national park characterized by several forest layers. Variety of scrubland and grassland make up these forests.

Sri Lankan Elephant, Sri Lankan Water Buffalo, Wild Boar, Sambar Dear, Sri Lankan Leopard and many bird species you can spot in Lunugamvehera National Park.