Located near Polonnaruwa, the Flood Plains National Park acts as an important elephant migration corridor between Wasgamuwa National Park and Somawathiya National Park. As the name suggests, it encompasses the floodplain of Sri Lanka’s longest river the Mahaweli, which flows out to the sea in Trincomalee. Although located in the dry zone, the rich alluvial soils of the flood plains support lush growth of grasses and riverine scrub providing the ideal habitat for an elephant population numbering between 50 to 100. The park is known to be the prime habitat of the swamp elephant, a distinct sub-species of the Sri Lankan elephant, which has evolved to suit the conditions growing considerably larger. A wide range of both resident and migratory waterfowl and waders also inhabit this vast wetland system.

Written by Jonathan Roelofsz for Travel Lanka Compass