Lahugala Kitulana National Park is located on the southeastern coast of the island of Sri Lanka, in the Kheda Oya River basin, 16 km from the city of Pottuvil. Lahugala Kitulana is one of the smallest National Parks in Sri Lanka, with an area of ​​only 1554 hectares. In 1966, the territory was declared the Lahugala Nature Reserve, and in 1980 it was given the status of a National Park. There are three large lakes in the park - Lahugala, Kitulana and Sengamuwa, forming vast wetlands with a unique ecosystem; there are also areas of dry evergreen forests and areas of granite rock formations. The grass Sacciolepis interrupta grows on the muddy soils of floodplain meadows, a favorite delicacy of elephants. Lahugala Kitulana Park is home to one of the largest elephant populations in Sri Lanka, numbering around 150 animals. Among the mammals in the park there are leopards, sloth bear, gray langur, golden jackal, fishing cat, rusty cat, Indian muntjac, spotted deer, wild boar, scaly anteater. The wetlands of Lahugala Kitulana Park are home to thousands of nesting birds, including pelicans, purple heron, painted stork, lesser adjutant, white-bellied sea eagle, combed duck, Sri Lankan pheasant, red-faced bush cuckoo and others. In addition to its rich nature, the park is known for its historical and archaeological monuments. On its northern outskirts are the ruins of the ancient Buddhist temple Magul Maha Vihara, built in the 2nd century BC by King Kawantissa. According to legends, it was here that his wedding with the Vihara princess Maha Devi took place. Scattered over an area of ​​about 10,000 acres are the remains of ancient walls, the main gate and the palace, you can see a well-preserved stupa and a moonstone, the only one in Sri Lanka that depicts elephants carrying mahouts on their backs (no other moonstone there are no images of people in the stone).