Welcome to the verdant expanse of Wilpattu National Park (WNP), which encompasses an impressive area of over 131,000 hectares, making it the largest and one of the oldest protected regions in Sri Lanka. Established through five designated blocks between 1938 and 1973 under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, the park is under the stewardship of the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
WNP is situated across the Puttalam and Anuradhapura districts, adjacent to the Mannar and Vavuniya districts. This area is recognized as one of the most significant habitats for elephants in the nation and offers excellent opportunities for observing the elusive Sri Lankan leopard and the sloth bear.
Distinct from many other national parks in Sri Lanka, WNP features a denser forest cover. Its diverse landscape includes dry zone forests and thorny scrub, interspersed with vast open plains, sand dunes, and the distinctive Villu wetlands. Additionally, the park is characterized by striking reddish cliffs that rise sharply from the narrow beaches of Portugal Bay and Dutch Bay.
Located near the ancient city of Anuradhapura, WNP is home to numerous historical ruins and artifacts that reflect various periods of Sri Lanka’s rich history.
