Kumana National Park : Yala-East (කුමණ ජාතික වනෝද්‍යානය)

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This is a separate national park from the Yala (Ruhuna) National Park but joined to Yala on the west side by the Block 2 Strict Nature Reserve. Kumana villu is a well-known nesting site for various species of herons, storks and also pelicans and a host of other water birds. Earlier Kumana had a village, whose residents were shifted to the Mahaweli project area.

The park lies on the southeast coast in the Eastern province, 7 miles/12 km south of Arugam Bay, and is accessible from the Wellawaya – Pottuvil road. From Pottuvil, you need to travel across Panama, an ancient Sinhalese village amidst the elephant infested jungle. Close to the park entrance lies Okanda Devalaya, the main gathering point of Padayatra before entering the jungles of Yala

At the base of most rock outcrops are caves, some with rock inscriptions of the 1st and 2nd centuries BC. A nine-meter stature of the reclining Buddha, now in ruins, was discovered in a large cave at Bambaragastalawa. Bowattagala is an ancient monastic site. Kudumbigala and Lenama, peripheral to the park, were once the hunting grounds of Nittawo, legendary pygmies (or dwarf ape men)  who were sworn enemies of the Veddhas, the abiogenies of Sri Lanka.

Kumana National Park Ticket Prices

for example, for 2 foreigners with 1 child between 6-12 will have the cost of

Payments can be paid in USD or equivalent LKR by foreigners. You can call 1919 (government information center) for the latest ticket prices. If you are hiring a private safari Jeep, the prices vary from LKR 11,000-15,000 for half day (4 hours) based on the park. For a full day, its double the cost of a half day.

Accommodation

This park is at present rarely visited. It has two bungalows, one at Okanda, near the park entrance, and the other by the waterhole at Thunmulla. A campsite is situated on the banks of the Kumbbukkan Oya at Kumana. A boat is available for hire at Kumana Villu.

There is no places to stay outside the park. However you could find decent places to stay in Arugam Bay. There are few hideaways in Panama area too.

Archaological Ruins Inside Yala and Kumana National Parks

With the arrival of Buddhism to the country in 250 BC, Rohana sub kingdom too experienced a massive rising of large monastic complexes which could support thousands of bhikkhus. According to ancient text (Sammoha Vinodani Atuwawa) Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya is said to have had 12,000 Arhaths during the great famine of Beminitiyasaya in the 1st century BC.\

The golden era of this region however, came to an end due to wars among petty kings, drought, famine, disease and the destruction of irrigation infrastructure due to non maintenance. The Jungles had crept over this once populous area by the time Europeans arrived in Sri Lanka. However remnants of this forgotten kingdom is still found on almost every rock outcrop inside Yala and Kumana.

List of Archaeological Sites inside Yala and Kumana National Parks

Also See

• Nature and Wildlife in Sri Lanka
• Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity

Map of  Kumana National Park  (Yala-East) and Other Places of Interest

Travel Directions to Kumana National Park  (Yala-East)

Entrance to Kumana is from Okanda. Although the fastest route is through the Southern Expressway, The route through Balangoda – Beragala is very scenic.