Thuppahi's Blog

Marcel Bandaranaike, courtesy of The Aloysian, April and August issues, 2014

Mihintale, in the ancient kingdom of Anuradhapura located in the North Central province of Sri Lanka is said to be the world’s first recorded (247 BC) wild life & nature reserve established by King Devanampiyatissa, a convert to conservationism. Further evidence of this deep rooted concern to the conservation of wild life is found in an inscription engraved on a stone slab at Anuradhapura’s majestic Ruwanveli dagoba, attributed to the 12^th century king Nissankamalla, forbidding capture, killing or commercial trafficking of any animals within a radius of 7 (gauvva) from the city.

At present, some of the better nature reserves in the Indian Sub-Continent & South East Asia for Leopard & Elephant are found in Sri Lanka.

There are 21 national parks in Sri Lanka maintained by the Department of Wild Life Conservation.

1. Angammedilla National Park           11. Lunugamvehera National Park
2. Bundala National Park                12. Madura National Park
3. Flood Plains National Park               13. Minneriya National Park
4. Gal Oya National Park                        14. Pegion Island National Park
5. Galway’s National Park                      15. Somawathiya Chaitiya National
6. Hikkaduwa National Park                 16. Udawalawe National Park
7. Horagolla National Park                    17. Ussangoda National Park
8. Horton Plains National Park    18. Wasgomuwa National Park
9. Kaudulla National Park                      19. Wllpattu National Park
10. Lahugala National Park                       20. Kumana National Park (Yala East)

21. Yala National Park Continue reading →