Nilagala Conservation Forest

Nilag lies bordering Gal Oya National Park and covers a catchment area of Senanayake Samudraya. Gal Oya

which is one of the main water sources of Senanayake Samudraya falls to reservoir from the Nilgala.

‘Nilgala’ literally means ‘blue rock’. According to Gunatilleke & Gunatilleke (1990) the major vegetation type is lowland tropical dry mixed evergreen forest. The general climatic conditions in the Nilgala area can be described as moderately cool, turning humid during the northeast monsoon seasonala Forest.

Nilgala forest is also important as a major watershed for Gal Oya and Panmedilla Oya throughout the year. There are several peaks within the Nilgala forest area with “Yakun Hela” being the highest (700 m).

Nilgala forest is also rich of archaeological monuments, such as prehistoric and historical Buddhist monasteries.