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Beddagana Wetland Park

Beddagana Wetland Park is a part of 1,000 ha Wildlife Sanctuary declared in 1984 by the Department of Wildlife Conservation. The rampart of the Ancient Kotte Kingdom is close proximity and this is a splendid land area with 18 hectares which lies about 3 km east to the Colombo commercial hub. This wetland was developed into a biodiversity park by the Urban Development Authority to enhance the natural environment of the area and to ensure the protection of urban wetland biodiversity. Researchers, students, nature lovers and those who enthuse to enjoy the scenic beauty of Diyawanna Lake frequently visit the park. The park consists of an orientation center, bird watching tower, bird hides, floating deck close to Diyawanna Lake and the nature trails in the shrub.

Within the park, there are natural water ponds, marshy areas, seasonally flooding grasslands and pockets of shrub which support high species diversity including endemic and threatened animal and plant species. This is home for nearly 80 of resident birds such as Lesser Whistling-ducks, Open bills, Black-headed Ibis, Swamp hens, Cormorants, Jacanas, Egrets. Many winter visitors including Barn swallows, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Brown Shrike, Indian Pitta and Wagtails use this as a stopover site from August to April each year during the migratory season.

There are about 50 species of exciting butterfly species and this wetland ecosystem supports for many number of dragonfly species as well. The park highlights the presence of highly cryptic endangered mammal species, the Fishing cat and the Otter.  Numbers of native, endemic and threatened plant species are found within the shrub inside. The park offers pre-registration service on guided tours for various groups, wide range of educational activities and workshops for school and university students, awareness programs, teacher training workshops and partnership programs.