Once known as Yala East, Kumana National Park is located in the southeastern corner of Sri Lanka, covering 35,664.74 hectares of protected wilderness in the country's dry zone.
The Kumbukkan River forms the park's southern boundary and also marks the eastern edge of Yala National Park (Block II). On the eastern side, the park stretches along the southern part of Sri Lanka's eastern coastline, reaching up to Panama Village, the last populated settlement on the southeast coast.
Explore key locations within Kumana National Park including wildlife viewing areas, water bodies, and access points.
Kumana is world-famous as a bird sanctuary. Its many lagoons, mangrove swamps, and freshwater ponds provide perfect habitats for waterbirds. The most well-known wetland is Kumana Villu, a mangrove swamp that becomes a bustling nesting ground for waterbirds, especially between May and June when migratory birds arrive.
255 bird species out of Sri Lanka's 400 recorded species call Kumana home, including the rare black-necked stork.
The park supports a wide range of mammals, including:
Kumana is one of the few places in Sri Lanka where wild water buffaloes still roam freely.
Most water bodies in Kumana are freshwater ponds. The largest is Kumana Wewa, an ancient tank built between 1 AD and 1000 AD, measuring over one kilometer across.
Other significant tanks include Aluthgama Wewa, Eraminiyan Wewa, and Bakme Wewa.
Kumana is rich in history. Ancient cave inscriptions, dating back to the 1st and 2nd centuries BC, and ruins such as Bambaragasthalawa, Bowaththe Galge, and Kiripokuna show evidence of early settlements.
The remnants of large tanks suggest that this region, along with Yala, was part of the heartland of Ruhuna, a major agricultural hub during the first millennium.
The name "Kumana" comes from a former village located near Swamp Lake, bordered by the ocean in the southeast and the Kumbukkan River in the southwest. The park's main entrance at Okanda is 19 km from the river mouth of the Kumbukkan Oya.
Declared a bird sanctuary by the British administration
Upgraded to a national park and named Yala East
Officially renamed Kumana National Park
Main entrance at Okanda, 19 km from the Kumbukkan River mouth. The park is accessible via the southeastern coastal route, with Panama Village being the nearest settlement.