About Sinharaja, Sri Lanka

Sinharaja is situated close to Ratnapura and is between the villages of Rakwana, Deniyaya and Matugama.Sinharaja forest reserve is one of the least disturbed and biologically unique lowland rain forest in Sri lanka. It covers about 11,187 hectares from east to west. The length of the forest is about 21km and width from North to South is about 3.7km.It was declared a Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB) in 1978,as representative of tropical humid evergreen forest Eco system in Sri Lanka and has been recognized by UNESCO as part of it¡¯s International Network of Biosphere reserves.

A variety of indigenous plants and animals, flowing rivers and silent streamlets cover up nearly 9800 hectares. Out of a total of 830 indigenous flowering plants in the Island Sinharaja has nearly 500 plants and out of 21 native bird species in the country 17 species have made Sinharaja their home.
It was declared a National wilderness area in 1988 and lately a world heritage site in 1989.It is situated in the southwest lowland wet zone of the country in the districts of Ratnapura, Galle and Matara. The average annual temperature of Sinharaja is 23.6 C. Annual rainfall is more than 2500mm. The rain fall is well distributed during two monsoons, May to July and October to December.