Flood Plains National Park

This park is central to the integrity of the Mahaweli system of protected areas, both for its unique “villus” and as a corridor for wildlife migration between grazing lands in Wasgomuwa and Somawathiya chaitiya National Parks. It is particularly important for the long term survival of elephants within the Mahaweli catchment. Together with the adjacent Somawathiya Chaitiya National Park, Flood Plains National Park provides a refuge for a wide variety of resident and migratory waterfowl species.
Location
The area spans the Mahaweli Ganga in Polonnaruwa district in North Central Province. The township of Manampitiya lies just outside the eastern boundary of the park, a stopover on the Batticaloa-Polonnaruwa road and on the railway which pass through the park.
Access
The simplest approach from Colombo would be via Kurunegala, Dambulla, Habarana and Polonnaruwa. The range office is in Polonnaruwa town. This park is 233Km away from Colombo.
The Mahaweli Ganga flows from south to North through the centre of the park. The flood plains of rich alluvial soil flanking the river are characterized by numerous shallow marshy depressions known as “villus”. The prolonged periods of inundation of these low-lying areas, together with nutrients carried in by the water, are largely responsible for the exceptionally high level of net primary productivity. Covering 17,035ha and lying in the Mahaweli protected area complex, the Flood Plains National Park links Wasgomuwa National Park (37,063ha) to the south with Somawathiya Chaitiya National Park (37,762ha) to the north.
There is no special evidence of historical ruins. This section of Mahaweli Ganga was connected to the ancient irrigation network in the vicinity. On the right bank of the river, at the edge of the Mutugala villu, there are ruins of an ancient cave monastery with inscriptions dating back to between the 2nd and 7th century BC.
 Saturated soils and flooding prevent tree growth and enhance the growth of water tolerant grasses and aquatic plants. The vegetation of the “villus” shows definite patterns of zonation, with creeping grasses.
 The rich vegetation in the “villu” attracts large number of grazing animals and birds and supports a higher annual biomass than any other type of habitat within the Mahaweli Development Project area. The flood plains, with their abundant supply of water and grasslands, are an important habitat for elephant (Elephas maximus) as well as an access providing a corridor for elephants ranging between Somawathiya Chaitiya and Wasgomuwa National Parks. The flood pains are particularly important for the diversity and abundance of their avifauna, particularly migrant birds. It is estimated that around 75 migrant species spent their winter time in the marshes of the flood plains.