Located on the eastern plains of the country, Maduru Oya National Park was established to protect the catchment area of five man-made reservoirs built as part of one of the largest irrigation projects in the country utilizing the waters of the Mahaweli River. A not too often visited park, its unspoiled beauty is enhanced by a range of rocky mountains forming its southwestern boundary. Maduru Oya National Park is most popular for its large herds of elephants attracted here by the ample water sources and good feeding grounds, but deer, monkeys, wild boar, and water buffalo are also very common. Although leopards and sloth bears do inhabit the area, sightings are extremely rare. The park also supports a wide range of birdlife, with the endemic red-faced malkoha and the extremely rare broad-billed roller found here.

Written by Jonathan Roelofsz for Travel Lanka Compass