Located near Mannar, Giant’s Tank is a massive reservoir built in ancient times to irrigate large tracts of rice paddies in the region known as the rice bowl of Mannar. The tank supports large populations of waterfowl, making it an attractive site for bird watchers. Common sightings within the tank include spot-billed pelican, openbill, pheasant-tailed jacana, purple coot, and greater cormorants, while on the surrounding dry ground, baya and striated weavers, rufous rumped shrike, and kestrel are common. The water levels of the tank are seasonal and when at low levels recede far into the bed of the tank so binoculars or a spotting scope is recommended.

Written by Jonathan Roelofsz for Travel Lanka Compass