This forest covers approximately an area of 11,100 hectares of natural forests. It measures 21km in length and is 7km in width at its widest point and 3km at its narrowest.
The boundaries of the forest consist of several rivers and streams- Napola Dola and Koskulana Ganga in the North; Kalukandawa Ela and Pitakele Ganga in the West and Maha Dola and Gin Ganga on the South. The eastern boundary now encompasses the area of Morningside.
Sinharaja belongs to the middle elevation range or the uplands.which has a height range of 270 to 1,060m. & a slope range of 100 to 350. It annual rain fall within range of 3,000 to 6,000mm per annum but recording small seasonal variation since it’s negligible.
This verging forest has been facing numerous threats through last 2 decade due to various reason s since increasing population is causing drastically this forest too but early 1988-89 vise Steps were taken to declaring it a National Heritage Area. This was then followed by its inclusion in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.
The vegetation within the reserve can be broadly categorized as follows convenience for study,
• Lower slopes & valleys 150m-600m
• Middle slopes – 600m -1000 m
• Upper slopes and ridges-above 1,000 m
A staggering 64% of the tree species are endemic to Sri Lanka. The lower
slopes and valleys have remnant Dipterocarpus forest with the middle and higher slopes
characterized by trees of the genus Mesua. Orchids & pitcher.
Half of Sri Lanka's endemic mammals and butterflies are found here. Visitors are more likely to see Purple-faced Leaf Monkey and Grizzled Indian Squirrel.
Endemic lizards include the endangered Whistling Lizard and Rough-nosed Horned in this forest.
This world heritage Access is possible from Pitadeniya, but not practical for most visitors. Motorable access is to Kudawa via Ratnapura or via Buluthota Pass from Yala or via Katukurunda Junction, Agalawatta,& Kalawana from the coast.Wildlife highlights
Mammals
Grey S lender,Loris,Giant Squirrel,Layard’s Squirrel,Dusky-striped Squirrel,Rat (Srilankamys ohiensis)
Spiny Mouse (Mus mayori),Long-tailed Shrew (Crocidura miya),Horsefield’s Shrew (Crocidura horsefieldi),Purple-faced Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus vetulus),Toque Monkey (Macaca sinica)
Wild Pig (Sus scrofa),The Sambur (Cervus unicolour),Mouse Deer (Moschiola meminna),Barking Deer (Muntiacus munjak),Leopard (Panthera pardus),Rusty-spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosa),Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrina),Jackals (Canis aureus)
Butterflies
Giant King Crow,Tawny Rajah,Red-spot Duke,Five-bar Swordtail,Great Eggfly,Rustic,
Three-spot Grass Yellow,Tailed Jay,Blue Glassy Tiger,Sri Lanka Tree Nymph.
Dragonflies
Asian Skimmer,Marsh Skimmer,Sapphire Flutterer,Wall’s Grappletail,Dark-glittering Threadtail
Jungle Threadtail
Reptiles & Snakes
Deraniyagala’s Earth Snake (Rhinophis tricolorata),Black-spined Snake (Haploceros ceylonensis),Green-pit Viper (Trimerasurus trigonocephalus),Hump-nosed Viper (Hypnale hypnale)
Sri Lanka Krait (Bungarus ceylonicus),Rough-horned Lizard (Ceratophora aspera),Hump-nosed Lizard (Lyriocephalus scutatus),Water Frog (Lankanectes corrugatus),Golden Frog (Rana aurantiaca)
Fresh water Fish highlight
Comb-tail (Belontia singnata), Stone-sucker (Garra ceylonensis),Banded Loach (Schistura notostigma)
Bird distribution
This forest rich in bird life with an impressive 147 species recorded. It is also the only locality where 21 out of 25 bird species endemic to Sri Lanka may be viewed here.
