වස්ගමුව ජාතික උද්‍යානය

Wasgamuwa National Park is a natural park in Sri Lanka situated in the Matale and Polonnaruwa Districts . It was declared to protect and to make a refuge for the displaced wild animals during the Mahaweli Development Project in 1984 and is one of the four National Parks designated under the Project.[1] Originally it was designated as a nature reserve in 1938, and then in the early 1970s the area was regraded as a strict nature reserve.[2] Wasgamuwa is one of protected areas where Sri Lankan Elephants can be seen in large herds. It is also one of the Important Bird Areas in Sri Lanka. The name of the Wasgamuwa has derived through the words "Walas Gamuwa".[3] "Walasa" is Sinhala for sloth bear and "Gamuwa" means a wood. The park is situated 225 km away from Colombo Location Central and North Central provinces, Sri Lanka Nearest city Matale Coordinates 7°43′N 80°56′ECoordinates: 7°43′N 80°56′E Area 39322 ha Established August 07, 1984 Governing body Department of Wildlife Conservation HOW TO GET THERE: Route 1.Colombo – Kandy – Raja Mawatha – Mahiyangana – Wilgamuwa – Park entrance Route 2. Colombo – Kandy – Matale – Riverston – Hettipola – Wilgamuwa – Park entrance. (6 hours) BIRDS AT WASGAMUWA Red-faced Malkoha, Blue –faced Malkoha, Red winged Crested Cuckoo, Ceylon Trogon, Indian Cuckoo, Drongo Cuckoo, Indian Pitta, White-necked & Painted Stork, Striated & Baya Weavers, Crested Serpent & Crested Hawk Eagles, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Forest Eagle Owl, Brown Fish Owl, Little Scops Owl, Paradise Flycatcher, Thick-billed Flowerpecker