A small park located near Polonnaruwa, the Angammedilla National Park was established to protect the catchment area of the historic Parakrama Samudraya in Polonnaruwa, and the important irrigation tanks of Minneriya and Giritale. The Amban River which feeds the Parakrama Samudraya forms the park’s southern boundary and is the lifeblood of the park with its source in a small mountain range that forms the backdrop to the park. Amidst its dry zone of evergreen forests, visitors to Angammedilla can expect to see elephants, sambhur, spotted deer, water buffalo, and wild boar, as well as the rare red slender loris.

Written by Jonathan Roelofsz for Travel Lanka Compass