Runakanda Forest Reserve and Prehistoric Caves

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Runakanda Forest Reserve, a pristine extension of Sinharaja, is a biodiversity hotspot boasting stunning waterfalls like Mannawatta Ella. Tourists can explore ancient caves, including Kebella Lena, which reveals 13,000-year-old prehistoric settlements and polished stone tools. It’s an idyllic retreat for nature lovers and history enthusiasts seeking untouched wilderness.

Runakanda is an idyllic, mountainous forest that has managed to maintain its pristine beauty and allure, largely escaping the attention of the general public. This captivating forest was once seamlessly connected to the renowned Sinharaja Forest Reserve until the 1970s. However, over time, extensive deforestation for agricultural pursuits and human settlements led to its isolation from its once harmonious ecosystem.

Runakanda is renowned as one of the largest rainforests in Sri Lanka, second only to the prestigious Sinharaja. Adorned with magnificent biodiversity, comparable to that of its counterpart, Sinharaja, Runakanda stands proudly as a testament to nature’s gift on the island.

Biodiversity Runakanda Forest Reserve

Runakanda Forest boasts an impressive array of flora and fauna. Approximately 70% of the plant species found within this forest are endemic to Sri Lanka. In addition, the reserve is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including 24 species of mammals, 29 species of birds, 26 species of snakes, 6 species of lizards, 33 species of fish, and 50 species of butterflies.

Runakanda Wilderness showcases a collection of mesmerizing waterfalls, gracefully formed by cascading streams. Among them are notable brooks like Na Kanda Ela, Puwak Watiya Ela, and Ketalapath Ela. Additionally, the area boasts several enchanting small waterfalls, including Mannawatta Ella Falls, Mohini Ella Falls, and Pahanthuda Ella Falls. The crystal-clear waters from these streams converge with Maguru Oya, a tributary of the Kalu Ganga River, enhancing the natural allure of the surroundings.

Mannawatta Falls, situated in the Denihena Mannawatta area, is considered as the most exquisite waterfall within the forest. Formed by the Maguru Oya cascading over a rock plateau, this natural wonder unveils its breathtaking beauty as it gracefully plummets approximately eight meters from a small cliff. Another captivating cascade to behold is Pahantudawa Falls, located in close proximity to Dikhena village. It gracefully descends in a dual-tiered spectacle, enchanting all who venture near

Recently, this mountain range was declared as part of the bigger Sinharaja Rainforest, providing much-needed protection.

Runakanda Prehistoric Caves

Runakanda Kebella Lena Prehistoric Caves

During a 2017 survey conducted by the Archaeological Department, researchers discovered 37 caves containing prehistoric evidence within the Runakanda Forest Reserve.

In 2022, modern dating confirmed that the human artifacts found at the Kebella Lena Cave in Runakanda date back approximately to a period of 13,000 BP. Kebella Lena Cave is situated (GPS 6.5071, 80.3254) 322 meters above sea level on the summit of the mountain area of Rusigala in Runakanda. It consists of a small complex of interconnected rock shelters.

This small rock shelter faces northeast and is accessed via a short, steep, stone path. The cave mouth has a width of approximately 31 m and an average height above the floor of 9 m. A small stream located approximately 10 m east of the eastern shelter wall provides water, and a pond is situated in the rear of the rock shelter, providing access to fresh water.

The floor of the cave was laid with smooth stone slabs. What makes these stone slabs remarkable is their polished surface, resembling modern tiles, with an exceptionally neat finish. The research was a collaborative effort between the Bhikkhu University of Sri Lanka and Sichuan University in China.

Senior Lecturer Pahiyangala Sumangala Thero of the Bhikkhu University of Sri Lanka, who managed the excavation, believes that this cave was likely a large-scale stone tool production site. This conclusion is supported by the discovery of numerous stone tools, including arrowheads, as well as visible cracks in the stone slab layer.

Additionally, many seashells and shark teeth were unearthed, with holes in their centers suggesting they were used as pendants. This indicates that the prehistoric inhabitants not only lived in this area but also engaged in ocean-related activities. Bones recovered from the site were sent to the Beta Institute in the United States for radiocarbon (‘C14’) dating. The complete research findings were published on January 21 in Quaternary Science Reviews, a leading scientific journal based in England.

This discovery marks the first evidence of prehistoric human activity dating back 11,000 years in the Sinharaja region, Sri Lanka’s only primary rainforest.

Travelling to Runakanda Forest Reserve

Located at the edge of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Southern provinces, under the Palindanuwara Divisional Secretariat Division of the Kalutara District, lies the picturesque village of Mannawatta. Nestled amidst the scenic beauty, Mannawatta serves as a gateway to the Runakanda forest. Traveling a distance of 16 kilometers on the narrow road that heads south from Athwelthota Junction will lead you to this charming village.

To access Runakanda, one can embark on the route through Mannawatta or opt for the Baduraliya, Hadigalla, Dikhena road, crossing the Maguru River and traversing the forest for approximately eight kilometers. Within the periphery of this forest, one can discover quaint hamlets like Denihena, Kalukandawa, Higuruvelketiya, and Mannawatta, with Athwelthota serving as the closest market town.

Also See

References

Piyadasun, J. (2025, January 26). සිංහරාජයේ වසර 13,000ක් පැරණි ටයිල් කළ ගල්ලෙනක්. දිනමිණ. Retrieved February 23, 2025, from https://www.dinamina.lk/2025/01/26/breaking-news/160591/සිංහරාජයේ-වසර-13000ක්-පැරණි-ටය/
Sumangala, P., Perera, N., Premathilake, R., Perera, J., Uparathana, U., Jinarathana, K., … & Lu, H. (2025). Terminal Pleistocene to mid-Holocene rainforest foragers in Sri Lanka: Multidisciplinary insights at Kebella-lena rock shelter. Quaternary Science Reviews, 351, 109201.

Map of Runakanda Forest Reserve

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Travel Directions to Runakanda Forest Reserve

Route from Colombo to Runakanda Forest Reserve

Through: Kadawatha – Nittambuwa
distance from colombo : 115 km
Travel time : 3 hours
Time to Spend : 1/2 day to 1 day
Driving directions : see on Google Maps.