Maduru Oya National Park
Maduru Oya National Park is located in the Eastern and Uva provinces of Sri Lanka, 288 kilometres northeast of Colombo, with Polonnaruwa being the closest city. This national park is one of four established under the Mahaweli Development Project. It is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including mammals, birds, and reptiles, as well as unique flora.
The park serves as a catchment area for the Maduru Oya Reservoir. During your safari ride, you can witness local elephants, along with smaller mammals such as sloth bears, leopards, jackals, and porcupines.
Various aquatic birds can be observed in the park, along with other birds endemic to Sri Lanka, such as the red-faced malkoha. Reptile enthusiasts can look for common and water monitors, as well as the black-tailed python. As part of the dry zone, the park’s characteristic plant community includes dry mixed evergreen forests, shrubs, woody plants, and teak.
Additionally, Maduru Oya National Park offers insights into the area’s cultural heritage, with the discovery of an ancient sluice believed to have been constructed even before the 6th century BC.