MAJOR RIVERS

There are 103 rivers and streams with most flowing from the upcountry mountains of Sri Lanka. The longest is the Mahaweli. It starts its 333 km journey near Adam’s Peak and finds its way into the Indian Ocean at Koddiyar Bay at Trincomalee. It is the only perennial river to cross the dry Zone. Sri Lanka’s perennial rivers are called Ganga,and other streams are called Oya in Sinhala or Aru in Tamil. A number of rivers have now been developed both for irrigation and power. The Victoria power project on Mahavali Ganga is one of the largest in Asia. The other power projects are Kothmale, Rantambe and Randenigala on the Mahaveli river.
Kala - Oya starts from Kalawewa Reservoir built in the 5th Century.
Other rivers which are over 100 Kms long:
Name of River Length
Mahaweli Ganga 335 km
Aruvi Aru 164 km
Kala Oya 148 km
Kelani Ganga 145 km
Yan Oya 142 km
Deduru Oya 142 km
Walawe Ganga 138 km
Maduru Oya 135 km
Maha Oya 134 km
Kalu Ganga 129 km
Kirindi Oya 117 km
Kumbukkan Oya 116 km
Menik Oya 114 km
Gin Ganga 113 km
Mi Oya 109 km
Gal Oya 108 km

WATER FALLS

The Waterfalls of Sri Lanka are breathtaking and rich in beauty. Waterfalls have been a magnificent gift of nature, which have attracted human beings since the beginning of time.
Sri Lanka has the largest number of waterfalls in comparison to its size of any given country. Waterfalls are most commonly found in the hill country, mainly closer to towns in the Central Province ; Kandy, Hatton, Nuwaraeliya, Ramboda, Thalawakele and Kegalle. Ratnapura, Yatiyantota, Pelmadulla, Belihuloya, Kitulgala, Maliboda and Bulathkohupitiya in Sabaragamuwa Province. Wellawaya and Badulla in Uva Province, and Kalutara in Western Province.The main three geographical factors which need to be formed of water are:
1. The sharp up thrust of the earth’s surface.
2. Water flow over a hard surface which can resist erosion for a longer time.
3. Plenty of rainfall.
Aberdeen Falls
The height is 98m. This is situated in the Aberdeen estate and you can reach via the Ginigathhena town.

Bambarakanda Ella Falls
The height is 241m. This is the tallest waterfall in the island. It flows from the Horton plains formed by the Uduweriya Haputale mountains’ Kuda Oya. Bambarakanda Falls is situated in Handumulla in the Badulla District. You can reach from A-4 road, the Colombo - Badulla highway, turn left for Weerakoon village and proceed 5km to the fall. The road is narrow and has to be driven carefully. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended.

Bopath Ella Falls
The height is 40m. The Bopath Falls cascades in the shape of a leaf of a Bo tree. Bopath Falls is in Kuruwita in the Ratnapura District. You can reach here from Colombo to Ratnapura (A4 road) and turn left along Devipahala road. This is a famous place for local tourists. Bopath Ella Restaurant is just by the side of the fall.

Devon’s Fall
The height is 97m. This is one of the famous water falls in the island, situated in the Devon estate (Devon was a pioneer coffee planter).
You can view this from Hatton - N’Eliya A-7 (81 – 82 Km posts) road and can be reached off Lindula by the road side.

Diyaluma Falls
The height is 171m, this is the third highest fall in Sri Lanka.
Located in the dry zone, fed from the Punagala oya, a tributary of Kirindi Ganga, which flows to the sea at Thissamaharamaya. This is very close to the A-4 road between Koslanda and Wellawaya (205 – 206 Km).

Dunhinda Falls
The height is 63m. This beautiful water fall of Badu Oya, is situated close to Badulla, off Badulla – Mahiyanganaya road. You will have to walk about two Km to the waterfall.

Gerandigini Ella Falls
The height is 100m. This waterfall is also very close to the “Ramboda Fall”
Gerandigini Falls is an amalgamation of several falls in the Ratnapura District including the Ramboda and Gerandi falls. The total height is 270m, so that the fall can be seen from a considerable distance.

Hunnas Falls
The height is 60m. This is a man made waterfall close to Kandy, during the Last Kingdom of Sri Lanka.  Water plunges over a steep rock from an artificial lake made by the famous “Hunnas Tourist Hotel”.

Kurunduoya Falls
The height is 189m, this is the second highest fall in Sri Lanka. It is formed by the Kurundu River, the water cascades down into a deep ravine before later flowing to the Mahaweli River. Another name for this fall is Maturata Falls. It is located in the Nuwara Eliya District. To reach the fall you have to take the road from Nuwara Eliya to Kandapola. You have to travel about 30 Km to reach it.

Lakshapana Falls
The height is 129m. “Lakshapana”- was the first hydroelectric project in this country, meaning “a 100,000 bulbs” You can reach here from A 7 Road between Kitulgala and Hatton. The most convenient route is the Hatton - Maskeliya road. Take this road for 18km from Hatton, off a footpath leads to Pathana village and from there to the fall. The other route is the Laksapana road from the Kaluganga River junction for 14km to the Lakshapana Temple, it is just 2.5km from here. The fall is 660m above sea level.

Mapalana Ella Falls
The height is 141m. This fall consists of three sections and is served by the Ella Oya. The Mapanana Falls is located in the Siripada Mountain 22km from Ratnapura. You can reach here from Ratnapura via Gillmale. It is another 20km along the bank of the Kaluganga to reach here.

Olu Falls
The height is 100m. This fall is 15 - 18 m wide with an impressive sight.
A wooden bridge spans the river and during rainy weather the fall sprays the water. It is a popular bathing point, and you can reach it along the road from Yatiyantota town (19km)

Poona Oya Ella Falls
The height is 100m. There are five waterfalls including this descending to form Kotmale river. This is also closer to Ramboda Ella Falls.

Ramboda Ella Falls
The total height is 203m in three parts. This waterfall has three parts and very close to the 53km post of A-5 trunk road, Nuwara Eliya to Pusselawa road. The fall is located 1.5km from the highway at this point The first part is above the road about 100m, second part is close to the road 3m, and the third part 100m is below the road.

Rawana Ella Falls
The height is 40m, situated in the Nuwara Eliya District, off Welimada - Perawella road near the Uduwahara temple. Coming from Welimada to Udupussalwa, turn at the Ambagasdeva junction and take the Perawella road to the upper end of the Udunavara village.

Saint Clair’s Fall
There are two waterfalls which make this beauty; Kuda Ella – 60m and the Maha Ella 80m, 50m wide. These fall down to Kothmale Falls. This waterfall is used for the Upper Kotmale Hydro Electric Power project.
You can view this clearly from A-7 road (81 – 82 Km posts).
This is in the Nuwara Eliya District, the fall is located 1.5km from Talawakele town.

Wavulpane Falls
The height is 45m. This fall is in the Wavulpane Subterranean limestone cavern which had been formed 500 million years ago. This is one of nature’s unique creations. This cave has became a home for millions of bats.
The cave is 135m in length.
You can reach from Pelmadulla - Embilipitiya for 15km, from there to Wavulpane.