Waterfalls of Sri Lanka

By Arundathie Abeysinghe Lecturer/Trainer

International Aviation Academy SriLankan AirlinesArundathie Abeysinghe

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Mountains of Sri Lanka abound with gorgeous waterfalls – cynosure of all eyes

Visitors are mesmerized by the sheer beauty of these waterfalls

Many of them are unknown – hidden away in forest or remote tea plantations

Sri Lanka – a country of 65,610 square kilometers

There are more than 200 waterfalls (recorded) – a large figure for a small country of its size

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There are many legends associated with waterfalls

Ravana Ella – associated with the great epic of the East - Ramayana

(Ravana – powerful demon king – ruled Sri Lanka – cave hidden behind the fall, believed to be - a place, the princess Sita was hidden after her abduction from India)

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Natural elevation of the land – Sri Lanka – a paradise of waterfalls

Waterfalls can be seen from various angles – each angle more beautiful than the other

Majority of waterfalls are located in the hill country

Ratnapura district has the highest number of waterfalls (109)

Nuwara Eliya district - 75 Kegalle district - 40

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Sri Lanka – a small island in the Indian Ocean - blessed with 103 rivers and streams radiating from the central hills

These rivers - rushing down rocky precipices form a number of roaring waterfalls - various shapes and heights – unique beauty

Some waterfalls can be viewed with ease Others can only be seen by penetrating thick

forests and tea plantations Arundathie Abeysinghe

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There are 19 hidden, beautiful waterfalls in Sinharaja Forest – a world heritage site

Some waterfalls are very high Dhoovili falls is the most beautiful

waterfall in Sinharaja Ancient Arab traveler Ibn Batuta was

mesmerized by the aesthetic splendor of these waterfalls

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Rathnapura District (109 Waterfalls) Nuwara Eliya District (77 Waterfalls) Kegalle District (40 Waterfalls) Kandy District (20 Waterfalls) Badulla District (33 Waterfalls) Galle District (26 Waterfalls) Hambantota District (2 Waterfalls) Kalutara District (24 Waterfalls) Kurunegala District (26 Waterfalls) Matara District (14 Waterfalls) Monaragala District (4 Waterfalls) Colombo District (4 Waterfalls) Gampaha Distict (2 Waterfalls)Arundathie Abeysinghe

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Thank you!

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