Kumana National Park

The Kumana National Park, also known as Yala East National Park is located in the Ampara district of south-east of Sri Lanka at a distance of 391 kilometers from Colombo.

Kumana National Park spreads over an area of 35,664 hectares. To the west, the park is bordered by the Kumbukkan Oya River and to the south by the southeast coast. The 200-hectare mangrove swamp in the park is called "Kumana Vilu". During the months of May and June, most waterfowl nest in this swamp. There are several pools of wildlife that are scattered throughout Kumana National Park.

Kumana National Park provides food, rest and habitat for a large number of endangered species, including three species of turtles, the green turtle, the loggerhead turtle and the Olive Ridley turtle. Also, the most common reptiles in any national park are the mugger crocodiles, the Indian flap shell turtle and the Indian black turtle. More than 430 endemic, resident and migratory bird species are recorded here. Of these, bird watchers can easily view more than 200 species. The Kumana National Park is the most important and most popular bird sanctuary in Sri Lanka.