Sri Lanka · national park
Somawathiya National Park
Somawathiya National Park is a national park in Sri Lanka, established in 1966, covering 376 km² (145 sq mi). It is the #7 largest of Sri Lanka's 26 national parks.
- Area
- 376 km²
- Established
- 1966
- IUCN
- II: National Park
- Nearest airport
- TRR · 47 km
Nearest airports to Somawathiya National Park
- 1 TRR47 kmstraight line
- 2 BTC73 kmstraight line
- 3Bandaranaike International Colombo AirportCMB176 kmstraight lineColombo, Sri Lanka
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More about Somawathiya National Park
Somawathiya National Park is one of 26 national parks in Sri Lanka. It covers 376 km² (37,646 ha) — about 3.6 times the size of Paris, making it the #7 largest national park in Sri Lanka (4.3% of the country's national park area).
History and protection
The park was established in 1966, 60 years ago — the first national parks in Sri Lanka date back to 1937. It is listed in IUCN category II: National Park — protecting whole ecosystems while welcoming visitors for recreation and education.
Visiting Somawathiya National Park
The closest airport is China Bay Airport (TRR), about 47 km away — around 1 h 1 min by car; alternatively Batticaloa International Airport (BTC, 73 km). Other national parks within reach include Flood Plains National Park (174 km²), Kaudulla National Park (69 km²), Angammedilla National Park (75 km²) and Minneriya National Park (89 km²) — easy to combine on one trip.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Somawathiya National Park?
When was Somawathiya National Park established?
What is the nearest airport to Somawathiya National Park?
What protection category is Somawathiya National Park?
Data: Wikidata (CC0), English Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons.