Horagolla National Park open from today

BY FLORENCE Wickramage

THE latest National Park under the Department of Wildlife Conservation The Horagolla National Park will be officially opened to the public today( 05) by Investment Promotion and Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike.

This 13.362 hectare National Park is located in the Nambadaluwa village in Udagampattuwa of the Siyane Korale in the Gampaha District.

In the seventies' decade the land belonged to the state, but on October 05, 1973 it was declared as a sanctuary considering the rich bio-diversity prevalent in the area under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. Under the same ordinance, this natural sanctuary was later upgraded as the Horagolla National Park on July 28, 2004.

Horagolla National Park is a low country evergreen forest with a humus soil structure and has a hot temperature throughout the year.

Growing in abundance in this national park are a variety of tree species locally known as Hora, Kekuna, Godapara, Diyapara, Kitul cane, Nandun, Etamba, Bo, Ruk, Ankenda, Milla, Munamal, Del and Velang. A wide variety of Pus-wel are also found in large numbers.

A variety of plant species and grass are found covering the landscape throughout the park. The diverse flora in the park provide the food for the birds, animals and reptiles in this habitat where ample water resources are also available.

A large variety of fauna generally found in evergreen forest are also found which include the Fishing Cat, Mouse Deer, Fox, Giant Squirrel etc. and bird life include species such as Parakeets, Black Headed Bulbuls, Barbets, Asian Koels etc.

A large number of reptile species found in the park including different species of pythons and cobras.

The Horagolla National Park could be reached by travelling 35 kilometres on the Colombo Kandy Road. Turning in at Nittambuwa and travelling one kilometre towards Veyangoda is the Pinnagolla junction. The Park Office is found six kilometres from this junction.