Gal Oya National Park is situated in the eastern part of Sri Lanka and is an ecological destination and national park centered around the Senanayake Samudra reservoir the largest inland body of Water in Sri Lanka. Gal Oya is a great place for bird watching, nature expeditions and elephant sightings. The National Park lies South-East of the Country in the eastern and UVA provinces. In addition to the national park, three sanctuaries were declared to protect the catchment area of this tank.
They are senanayake Samudra sanctuary, Gal Oya Valley North-East Sanctuary and Gal Oya Valley South-West sanctuary. Together these reserves and the national park cover approximately 63,000 ha of land. The park and the three sanctuaries were established by the Gal Oya Development Board on February 12,1954 and Subsequently handed over to the Department of Wildlife conservation in 1965.
Gal Oya is a Valley, Which has given refuge to several kings in the ancient past. In the second century BC, King Tissa Sought refuge at the Digavapi, a place Buddha Visited in his third visit to Sri Lanka. The Digavapi Dagoda, built in the Second century BC to Marks the Spot where the Buddhd sat on his last visit to Sri Lanka, attscts thousands of pilgrims even today.
About 45 percent of the Vegetation is evergreen forest, 33 percent Savanna, nine percent grassland, two percent chena cultivations and the balance is water bodies dominated by Senanayake Samudra. A host of medicinal shrubs and trees such as aralu, bulu, nelli can be readily found in the Nilgala area, While a number of locally Known trees such as vavarana, halmilla, veera, palu,ebony and mahogany are found in great numbers.
The Park with its thick green canopy is a haven for species of birds and nearer to the Samudra even migratory birds such as painted storks, pelicans, cormorants and teals could be seen. A host of local birds such as the grey dove, Malabar horn bill and grey horn bill, koel and a number of Water birds birds are found in this jungle habital. In addition to elephants, the park is home to leopards, bear spotted deer, Sambur,wild boar, etc. Among otherfauna are Several species of monkeys, porcupine. A number of fish Species, reptiles and four Species of butterflies such as the crimson rose and glassy tiger have been recorded.
By: Observer [19-12-2010]
