Kumana National Park

Kumana national park is located in Ampara district in Eastern province of the Sri Lanka. It's around 340km from Colombo. You can reach "Kumana" passing Rathnapura, Udawalawa, Thanamalwila, Wellawaya, Siyabalanduwa, Pothuwil and Panama town. Kumana is a well known bird sanctuary where a multitude of birds breed and roost. Regular sightings include such species of bird as pelicans, painted storks, spoonbills, white ibis, herons, egrets and little cormorants. The very rare black necked stork has also been spotted at the swamp. One of the most significant features of the park is the ‘Kumana Villu’ is a 200 hectare natural swamp lake, fed by the ‘Kumbukkan Oya’ through a half mile long narrow channel. Attached to a lot of lagoons, lakes and swamps.
Kumana is more of a bird sanctuary providing shelter for myriad endemic and migrant birds. Bird watching in Kumana is one of the top most events in every tourist’s sightseeing list in Sri Lanka. Kumana National Park has been rated as one of the most important breeding grounds in Sri Lanka. Many ancient cave engravings and inscriptions had been discovered in Kumana which date back to the 1st Century BC. Significance in Kumana is that Buddhist and Hindu devotees turn to Kumana on their foot pilgrimage towards the sacred Kataragama. Another significant part of the Kumana visit is witnessing the Kumana Villu during the months of May and June. One can say it is the heart of Kumana, in the prospective as a bird sanctuary. The reason for "Kumana Villu" given such importance in the checklist is it is the nesting place for many birds. It should be noted that "Kumana Villu" is subjected to sea water inundation occasionally. Kumana is also home to some of the mammals found in the neighboring "Yala" National Park such as elephants and leopards which can also be seen on safari. Other animals which reside inside Kumana National Park include the Golden Jackal, the European Otter.  It is also reported that approximately 30-40  Sri Lankan elephants reside in the park, although they do crossover to Yala National Park.