One of the island’s oldest and largest protected areas, the Wilpattu National Park (WNP) is shrouded in mystery. This ancient tract of dry zone forest once played host to some of the earliest habitations on the island – a rich cultural heritage dating back almost 2500 years. Located along the northwestern coast, the WNP lies wedged between Modaragam Aru in the North and Kala Oya in the South, with the Dutch and Portugal Bays providing sanctuary from the open ocean on the West, and agrarian communities to the East.
Named after its hallmark feature, the “Villu”, this ‘land of lakes’ acts as a backdrop to a fascinating cast of animals that call this vast landscape of 131,678ha ‘home’. Interspersed with several terrestrial ecosystems which include tropical dry mixed evergreen forests, dry pathana, scrub jungle and riverine systems, the WNP is a treasure trove waiting to be explored.
Receiving legal protection since 1905, the WNP consisted of a Game Sanctuary and Sportsman Reserves up until being designated as a National Park in 1938. With mesmerizing wildlife observations being made by researchers and enthusiasts, the 70’s and 80’s will long be remembered as the golden era of the WNP. Due to the adverse effects of the Sri Lankan terrorist conflict, the park was closed in 1988. Although it opened briefly during 2003, it was officially cleared and deemed safe to reopen for visitors in 2010. Since reopening, the WNP has gained a reputation of offering its visitors a holistic jungle experience with something for everyone.
Currently, access to the WNP is possible via the Department of Wildlife Conservation’s (DWC) Hunuvilagama (WNP Headquarters) entrance and through a secondary gate at Eluwankulama. Two additional gates exist at Mullikulam and Thanthirimale. A dirt road from Puttalam to Mannar runs through the western side of the park but is often inaccessible to the public due to its rugged nature.
Approximately 34,000 people live in the WNP’s influence zone. Their livelihoods are derived from a range of occupations with the majority of communities engaging in subsistence agriculture. An extent of 1.6km from the park boundary adjoining villages and other protected areas is maintained as a ‘restricted development zone’, ensuring there is a buffer of jungle cover.
Despite its importance, the WNP faces many challenges from illegal encroachment, poaching for wildlife and resources, climate change and related events such as droughts. Even though visitation to the WNP is limited to about 25% of the park’s total area, it is critical to ensure the continued protection of this unique area of global importance through sustainable and responsible tourism.
The Villus of Wilpattu National Park
The WNP’s most prominent and unique feature is its villus. Water collects in natural depressions of very low gradients in the ground, with no inlets or outlets, creating natural waterholes that attract a wide spectrum of wildlife. These waterholes serve as social hubs for the biodiversity of the WNP. Home to over 50 documented villus, the WNP’s hallmark landscapes range from 300m to 2km in diameter. While some large coastal villus contains brackish water, others contain freshwater with a fairly high lime content. Two villus, namely Kokkare Villu and Lunuvila, contain saline water.
The vegetation surrounding villus shows a zonal pattern in response to the fluctuations of the water levels. The outermost ring of vegetation consists of scrub with a sandy bottom, due to water hardly reaching these areas. Moving inwards towards the centre of the villu, the habitats tend to comprise either grassland or marshland or water, filled with an array of aquatic plants. The water level of a villu fluctuates based on rainfall retention and continuous evaporation, with some villus drying out completely during the peak of the dry season.
Cultural History
Immersed in history and associated legends, the WNP and its immediate surroundings have resulted in a rich cultural heritage of over 2500 years, evident from the 68 archaeological sites which are located within the park.
The northwestern coast of the WNP boasts a cupreous coastline that many legends and myths speak of. However, the most widely known is that which involves Prince Vijaya, who is said to have landed at “Thambapanni” or “Kudiramalai” around 500 BC. It is recorded in the Mahawamsa and the Deepavamsa (ancient Sri Lankan historical chronicles written in Pali), that “Thambapanni” was the name given to the area by Prince Vijaya upon his arrival, due to the unique colour of this coastline.
Another popular geological myth is that this coastline, specifically the Kudiramalai Point, was the base of a meteor strike that took place many centuries ago, justifiable by the burnt bed of rocks and bright copper hues visible when visiting this fascinating coastline.
Shrouded in myth and mystery, some legends suggest that Prince Vijaya took the “Yaksha” Princess Kuweni - whose palace lies in ruins at Kali Villu – as his partner, enabling him to become the ruler of this region and subsequently the entire island. The thick band of cotton trees surrounding Kuweni’s palace ruins are symbolic, as it is also believed that Kuweni was engaged in spinning cotton when Vijaya first encountered her.
Archaeological Importance
As per adopted classifications, the archaeological sites of the WNP can be divided into five categories; fossil sites, prehistoric sites, protohistoric sites, monastic sites and irrigation/agricultural sites. Miocene era (26 - 27 MYA) fossils have been identified at several locations within the WNP, while eleven sites belonging to the prehistoric period have also been recorded, together with stone tools made with chert, clear quartz and pebbles. Pottery fragments, burial sites and ruined structures of monasteries belonging to the protohistoric period have been found in 43 sites, including at Pomparippu, the most famous urn burial site.
Of the eleven monastic sites recorded from within the WNP, Ochchappukallu (depicted above) and Veheragala, contain inscriptions. The name of the more significant site ‘Ochchappukallu’ is derived from the Tamil language, and literally translates to ‘leaning stone’. A 2nd century rock-cut Brahmin inscription can be observed at this site on a drip-ledge cave, said to have belonged to the indigenous Veddah community; a testament to the ingenuity of our ancestors. Sadly, treasure hunters have damaged many, if not all archaeological sites that lie in these dense jungles. By now, many of them have been reclaimed by the forest and are frequented by animals, making them inaccessible to visitors.
Out of the 26 irrigation/agricultural sites that have been recorded, park authorities have successfully restored a few, and they continue to function to this day. The most notable of these is Periyavila, which is often mistakenly identified as a villu but is in fact a man-made tank. The remaining sites currently lay abandoned, as their bunds have been breached beyond recoverable measure.
Guidelines for Safely Enjoying Natural Habitats
Use reusable bottles and bags to cut plastic waste. Opt for glass bottles or cans instead of plastic when buying sodas. Say no to plastic straws and bags, and bring a reusable bag when shopping.
Avoid bush-meat like wild boar and venison to prevent harm to wildlife. The methods used for capture are illegal and destructive, often harming unintended animals like leopards and fishing cats in snares.
Respect the animals and their habitat. Allowing our natural environment to remain the way it is with minimal disturbance will only make for better sightings and experiences in the wild.
Follow these guidelines and spread the word to friends and family. Engage with your local community and speak out about environmental issues. Your actions can drive real change—don't hesitate to speak up!
