Gal Oya is the only valley in Sri Lanka which can claim to have given shelter to Sinhala kings in three different locations; namely to King Tissa to Dighavapi in the 2nd century BC, to King Buvanekabahu on the summit of Govindahela in the 13th century, and to the King Dore Swamy at Nilgala in the 19th century. The Dighavapi Dagoba, built in the 2nd century BC to mark the spot where the Lord Buddha is supposed to have sat during his last visit to Sri Lanka, attracts thousands of pilgrims. The hill country in the west was one of the last strongholds of the veddas. Henebedde cave near Vadinagala has a drip ledge and contains a Brahmi inscription. Near the cave are moonstone, guard stone and balustrade stone. Ruins of an ancient structure are close by.
About 45% of Gal Oya National Park is forest, 33% savanna, 9% grassland and 2% chena (forest disturbed by shifting agriculture). The rest (10%) consists of water bodies. The forest is generally evergreen, of medium stature (30-40m) With a dense closed canopy layer. The savanna is found mainly in the west.
A total of 32 species of terrestrial mammals has been recorded in the Gal Oya region. Of more than 334 species of birds which occur regularly in Sri Lanka, 150 have been observed in the Gal Oya region. Two ecological categories of birds could be found. First are the large numbers of fish eating birds which occur in and around the tanks. The second group consists of frugivorous birds such as hornbills (Ocyceros griseus) and (Anthracoceros coronatus), pigeons (Ducula aeneapusiila) and Treron spp. Among the reptiles present, mugger (Crocodylus palustris) is locally common in tanks and irrigation ditches and common monitor (Varanus bengalensis) is abundant in drier areas. Amphibians and fish fauna also can be observed within the park area.
Gal Oya National Park: 25,900ha
Senanayake Samudra Sanctuary: 9,324ha
Gal Oya Valley North-East Sanctuary: 12,432ha
Gal Oya Valley South-West Sanctuary: 15,281ha
Total : 62,937 ha
The park and the three sanctuaries was established by the Gal Oya Development board on 12 February 1954 and subsequently handed over to the Department of Wild life conservation in 1965.
|