Flora
The KDN forest complex shows a degree of floral endemicity, as 17 percent of lowland endemic floral species confined to this forest area. Of 319 woody plants recorded in the area about 52 per cent is endemic. The vegetation of KDN complex represents Sri Lanka lowland rain forests. The floral communities dominated by Shorea-Dipterocarpus-Mesua (Sinhalese "Doona-Hora-Na") are common in emergent layer of the forest.
Numerous medicinal plants are found in these forests. They includes Concinium fenestratum (Sinhalese "Weniwelgata"), Salacia reticulate ("Kothala Himbutu"), and Tinospora cordifolia ("Rasakinda"). Lycopodium Squarrosum ("Kuda hadaya"), and Lycopodium phlegmaria ("Maha hadaya") are among the rare plants the forest complex harbors..
Founa
Some 220 faunal species recorded from the KDN forests and forests around the KDN. This includes 41 endemic species. The forest complex is home to 86 species mammals. This includes 4 species of shrews, 5 rodents, one carnivore and 2 primates. Out 26 endemic birds of Sri Lanka 20 of them can be seen in KDN forest complex. Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Red-faced Malkoha, Orange-billed Babbler, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie are some of them. 20 percent of Sri Lanka's endemic freshwater fishes inhabit in the waters of Gin River and Nilwala River, which sourced by the springs of Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya. Among the forests' herpetofauna are 36 species of snakes, 17 endemic species belonging to 6 families. A total of 23 species of Lizards recorded in these rain forests.
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