Wasgamuwa National Park
Sri Lankan national park with elephants, birds, and ancient ruins.
Wasgamuwa National Park is a protected area in Sri Lanka, located in the Matale and Polonnaruwa Districts. It was declared a national park in 1984 as part of the Mahaweli Development Project to provide refuge for displaced wild animals. Originally designated a nature reserve in 1938 and later a strict nature reserve in the early 1970s, the park is notable for its large herds of Sri Lankan elephants and its status as an Important Bird Area. The name derives from the Sinhala words 'Walas Gamuwa,' meaning 'sloth bear wood.'
Quick Facts
- Iucn Category
- II
- Location
- Central and North Central provinces, Sri Lanka
- Nearest City
- Matale
- Area
- 39322 ha
- Established
- August 07, 1984
- Governing Body
- Department of Wildlife Conservation
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The park contains ruins of ancient irrigation works built by King Parākramabāhu I, including the Malagamuwa, Wilmitiya, and Dasthota tanks, and the Kalinga Yoda Ela canal. Yudangana Pitiya is identified as the battleground of the battle between King Ellalan and King Dutthagamani, and nearby Kandauru Pitiya is a grassland where Dutthagamani's army camped. The Chulangani chaitya, built by King Mahanaga, has a circumference of 966 feet, larger than Ruwanwelisaya's, and artifacts recovered from it include bronze statues, now kept at Yudangana vihara.
Reader's Guide
Wasgamuwa National Park is significant for its high biodiversity, with over 150 floral species and 23 mammal species, including a herd of 150 Sri Lankan elephants. It is home to endemic fauna such as purple-faced langur, toque macaque, red-faced malkoha, and Sri Lanka junglefowl, as well as rare species like the Sri Lanka leopard, sloth bear, and Sri Lanka frogmouth. The park's dry-zone forests, reservoirs, and riverine habitats support 143 bird species, 17 reptile species, and 17 fish species. Threats include disease transmission from domestic cattle, illegal logging, and human-elephant conflict, with a proposed elephant transit home and concerns over resettlement from the Moragahakanda reservoir project. The park's legacy lies in its role as a refuge for wildlife displaced by development and its preservation of ancient irrigation and historical battle sites.
Did You Know?
- The park's name comes from 'Walas Gamuwa,' Sinhala for 'sloth bear wood.'
- The Chulangani chaitya has a circumference of 966 feet, greater than Ruwanwelisaya's.
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