It’s one of the largest natural lake located 35km away from Colombo near Panadura.it’s cover 400 square km of water,lager north lake stretches across Colombo and Kaluthara Districs while south lake situated in the Kaluthara,North lake discharge to sea via The panadura,
Panadura & moratuwa area well known old practice find hand of furniture, as per history this lake use as media of transport of Timber from Singheraja forest to Moratuwa.
The lake & its atmosphere are good for range of nature related activities & encouraged for water sport too, this is an excellent hideout for bird watching as migrating & wetland birds,
A primitive fishing technique it’s call “JA_Kotu” use by villagers,it’s threat for endemic species living lake because it’s catching pre matured fish ,further threaten for Rhizopora too but as a cultural fishing technique Bolgoda is place to see Ja-Kotuwa,
As per naturalist lake divers fauna is its over 45 species of fish,40 species of reptiles, over 17 species of amphibian, over 100 birds including endemic, migrating & wet land birds, over 30 mammals recorded around this lake bank,
Beauty of the lake is enhanced by the fauna & flora, its rich wide variety of aquatic vegetation varying with depth & formation of rock layers in certain section of the lake. Much kind of grass, Tress & water plants can be found in addition to mangroves.
Maddy Mangroves area dominated by Water lilies (Nympoides),Bladderworth (Utricularia) & specially Sour fruit call Kirala(sonneratia),
Kirala is a famous beverage among Villagers it’s taste very similar to wood apple,Bolgoda is an Eye catching destination in Panaura area,
Access
Colombo Panadura Old Main Road Drive up to Panadura,