Lahugala Kitulana National Park
Small park, vital for elephants and endemic birds.
Lahugala Kitulana National Park is one of the smallest national parks in Sri Lanka, located 318 km east of Colombo. Originally designated as a wildlife sanctuary on July 1, 1966, it was upgraded to a national park on October 31, 1980. Despite its small size, the park is an important habitat for the Sri Lankan elephant and endemic birds of Sri Lanka, and contains the reservoirs of Lahugala, Kitulana, and Sengamuwa, which empty into the Heda Oya river.
Quick Facts
- Iucn Category
- II
- Location
- Eastern province, Sri Lanka
- Nearest City
- Pottuvil
- Area
- 1,554 ha
- Established
- October 31, 1980
- Governing Body
- Department of Wildlife Conservation
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Conservation efforts include a project by the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society to establish an electric fence protecting four villages adjacent to the southern boundary. Threats to the park include poaching, logging, fuelwood collection, and grazing. A proposed canal within the park was protested by environmentalists, who noted that construction is unlawful not just within the park but beyond one kilometre from it. A jungle corridor is being proposed to link the park with Gal Oya and Kumana National Parks.
Reader's Guide
Lahugala Kitulana National Park, though one of the smallest national parks in Sri Lanka, holds significant ecological importance as a critical habitat for the Sri Lankan elephant and several endemic bird species. Its reservoirs—Lahugala, Kitulana, and Sengamuwa—provide essential water sources and support a diverse array of wetland birds, including the spot-billed pelican and woolly-necked stork. The park's dry-zone evergreen forests and dominant grass species Sacciolepis interrupta sustain a herd of about 150 elephants, making it a key feeding ground. The park also harbors a variety of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and endemic fish, such as Clarias brachysoma. Culturally, the nearby Magul Maha Viharaya adds historical depth, linked to the marriage of King Kavan Tissa and princess Viharamahadevi. Conservation challenges include poaching, logging, and potential isolation from development in the lower Uva basin, but efforts like the proposed jungle corridor aim to connect it with Gal Oya and Kumana National Parks, ensuring long-term viability for its wildlife.
Did You Know?
- The last recorded sighting of the knob-billed duck, now thought to be extinct in Sri Lanka, occurred in Lahugala Kitulana National Park.
- The park's dominant grass species, Sacciolepis interrupta, is a main food source for elephants and attracts a herd of about 150 individuals.
- Environmentalists protested a proposed canal within the park, arguing that construction is unlawful within one kilometre of the park boundary.
- The park contains three reservoirs—Lahugala, Kitulana, and Sengamuwa—that empty into the Heda Oya river.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lahugala Kitulana National Park?
It is one of Sri Lanka's smallest national parks, sitting 318 km east of Colombo. The park protects a patch of dry-zone evergreen forest along with three reservoirs that ultimately feed the Heda Oya river.
When did Lahugala Kitulana become a national park?
The area was first protected as a wildlife sanctuary on July 1, 1966. It was later elevated to full national park status on October 31, 1980.
Why is Lahugala Kitulana National Park important?
Despite its modest footprint, it provides a key refuge for Sri Lankan elephants and several bird species endemic to the island. Its three reservoirs also play a role in sustaining the Heda Oya river system.
What kind of climate and vegetation does Lahugala Kitulana have?
The park is blanketed in Sri Lanka dry-zone dry evergreen forest and receives roughly 1,650 mm of rainfall per year. This drier profile sets it apart from the lush lowland forests found further south on the island.
Which water bodies are found inside Lahugala Kitulana National Park?
The park encompasses the Lahugala, Kitulana, and Sengamuwa reservoirs. All three eventually discharge their water into the Heda Oya river.
More in National parks of Sri Lanka 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced