Abound with lavish scenic beauty and crawling with innumerable varieties of Aves, lies the Kumana National Park in the southeast corner of the emerald island, widespread for almost 18000 hectares. Kumana is more of a bird sanctuary providing shelter for myriad endemic and migrant birds. Bird watching in Kumana is one of the top most events in every tourist’s sightseeing list in Sri Lanka. Kumana National Park has been rated as one of the most important breeding grounds in Sri Lanka. Many ancient cave engravings and inscriptions had been discovered in Kumana which date back to the 1st Century BC. Significance in Kumana is that Buddhist and Hindu devotees turn to Kumana on their foot pilgrimage towards the sacred Kataragama.
Cherishingly attached to a lot of lagoons, lakes and swamps, Kumana benefits a huge number of wildlife which also includes animals, reptiles, amphibians and rare flora as well. Although the geographic location of Kumana is in the midst of dry zone, it is hardly witnessed Kumana running short of water. Mostly all of these natural water tanks are brimming with water mainly fed by the northeast monsoon. Namely – Kumana, Okanda, Kiri Pokuna, Thunmulla, Kudawila and Kotalinda are several lakes and Okanda, Girikula, Bagura, Andaratala, Itikala and Yakala are the six main lagoons in Kumana. Of course it is an elegant sight when those lakes and lagoons are covered with a vast spread of charming lotus.

Another significant part of the Kumana visit is witnessing the Kumana Villu during the months of May and June. One can say it is the heart of Kumana, in the prospective as a bird sanctuary. The reason for Kumana Villu given such importance in the checklist is it is the nesting place for many birds. It should be noted that Kumana Villu is subjected to sea water inundation occasionally.

A record of incredible 250 species of birds in Kumana had been made in Kumana. Hundreds of thousands of birds migrate to Kumana during the April to July seeking summer climate. One typical example for the migrating birds is the Pintails who fly 9000km all the way from Siberia. Other commonly sighted migratory birds include Asian Openbill, Indian Pond Heron, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Black Crowned Night Heron, Great Egret, Spot Billed Pelican, Little Comorant, Indian Comorant, Watercock, Common Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Pheasant Tailed Jucana, Black Winged Stilt, White Breasted Waterhen, Lesser Whistling Duck, Little Grebe and Malabar Trogon.

If someone is lucky enough, the very rare migratory birds can also be sighted. Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Red-faced Malkoha, Sirikeer Malkoha, Greater Racket- tailed Drongo are some of those rare migrants which can be seen between April to July.

The swamp area gives the visitors a great opportunity to see the commonly sighted birds as well. Malabar Trogon, Great Thick Knee, Eurasian Spoonbill, Lesser Adjutant, Pacific Golden Plover, Lesser sand plover, Greater sand plover, Grey Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Purple Herons, White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Painted Stroks, Ruddy Turnstone, Wood Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Little Stint, Common Snipe, Pintail Snipe and Pelicans are the common breeding habitants sighted around the Kumana Villu and the very rare Black Necked Stroks can also be seen.

Apart from the prolific birdlife, some habitants of the neighbouring Yala National Park can also be seen during a safari. Elephants, Leopards, Wild Boars, European Otters, Golden Jackal, and the endangered Fishing Cat are some of the impressive sights one may observe during a Kumana visit. Thus enriched with good aquatic sources Kumana is home for a large number of threatened wetland species as well. Fish species like Tilapia and The Common Mullet can be seen in the lakes and lagoons. Since Kumana is situated in the coastal region it facilitates port for varieties of turtles – some of them are endangered as well. Indian Black Turtle and Indian Flap Shelled Turtle are the most seen which move towards Kumana seeking asylum to lay eggs during some periods of the year. Meanwhile, Green Turtle, Loggerhead Turtle, Olive Ridley Turtle can also be sighted in Kumana nevertheless they are rare. Notably, the globally vulnerable but threatened Mugger Crocodile is also a very common sort of Tetrapod seen in Kumana.

The Kumana National Parks wetland is surrounded by a dense flora – a dry zone thorn forest. Most of the forest is dominated by the Manilkara hexandra – locally known as Palu. The swamp area contains mangrove variety of flora. Beside Palu and mangrove plants many aquatic range of trees and reed are also seen. Locally named – Kumbuk, Ehela, Burutha and Karan fern trees are some of them.

As a part of the Kumana tour plan, visiting the historical monastery – Kudumbigala which was re-discovered in recent past is also an added opportunity.

All in all, the Kumana National Park is a salubrious collection of Fauna and Flora and it is one of the magnificent places to be visited and protected. It is a responsibility of the sightseers not to harm the balance of nature inside the park.