The only national park in Sri Lanka offering boat safaris, famous for elephants swimming between islands on the vast Senanayake Samudra reservoir.
🕑 06:00–18:00
⏱ ~4.0 hr
🎟 Entry: LKR 3000
Ampara
The quiet inland capital of the district, ringed by paddy fields and irrigation tanks, and the gateway to Gal Oya National Park's famous boat safaris.
Great for:
Eco Tourism
Overview
Ampara is the administrative capital of the district, a calm, spread-out town set amid the paddy fields and reservoirs of the Gal Oya scheme in the dry-zone interior. Built up around the great irrigation works of the mid-20th century, it is home to a mix of Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities and makes a convenient base for two of the district's inland highlights: the wildlife of Gal Oya National Park, the only park in Sri Lanka offering boat safaris, and the forest monastery of Buddhangala. The sacred stupa of Deegavapi lies within reach to the north.
History
Ampara grew from a small settlement into a town during the 1950s as the headquarters of the Gal Oya Development Scheme, Sri Lanka's first great post-independence irrigation and resettlement project, which dammed the Gal Oya river to create the vast Senanayake Samudra reservoir. The wider region, historically known as Digamadulla, has ancient roots stretching back to the early kingdoms of the eastern dry zone.
Attractions
A serene forest monastery on rocky outcrops just outside Ampara, dotted with ancient ruins and a white stupa amid the jungle.
🕑 06:00–18:00
⏱ ~1.2 hr
🎟 Entry: Free
An ancient sacred stupa north of Ampara, counted among the sixteen holiest Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka and linked by legend to a visit of the Buddha.
🕑 06:00–18:00
⏱ ~1.0 hr
🎟 Entry: Free
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Travel tips
- Arrange a Gal Oya boat safari in advance through a lodge or the park office, as boats leave from Inginiyagala rather than the main entrance.
- Start wildlife trips early in the morning for the best chance of seeing elephants around the reservoir.
- The dry-zone sun is fierce; bring a hat, water and sun protection.
- Dress modestly at Buddhangala and Deegavapi, which are active places of Buddhist worship.
- Carry cash, as card facilities are limited outside the main town.
