Kirala Kele Sentuary

Cork forest, which acts as a wetland that protects Matara city from floods, got its name because of the abundance of cork trees, a mangrove plant.
There are 530 hectares of wet swamps in the cork forest spread in Matara and Tihagoda Divisional Secretariat Divisions and spread over an area of about 1800 hectares. Near the Matara Godagama entrance of the Southern Expressway, the footpath to the right falls into the cork forest. It is 3 km from Matara city.
A board has also been installed near the Southern Expressway with the name "Kirala Kale". The section of the Southern Expressway up to Beliaatta was initially planned to be constructed through the cork forest, but due to strong opposition from environmentalists and local residents, it had to be changed and constructed through another route. According to geological factors, millions of years ago, the area of the cork forest extended to the sea.
Even today, when digging in that area, belicatu, shellfish etc. are found proving it. Many villages like Lenaduwa, Watagedara, Kudulenaduwa, Attudawa, Palamuwa, Godagama, Hitthetiya, Tudawa etc. are located around the wetland. In 2003, through a special gazette notification, 750 acres had been declared as a protected area. After that in the year 2013, through a special gazette, the area of the cork forest was declared as a sanctuary to give it more legal protection. It is under the control of the Department of Conservation. But it is reported that harmful activities such as land reclamation and plant removal are also taking place here.
Many species of flora and fauna can be seen in the Cork Forest Sanctuary, which is a mixed wetland ecosystem. Mangrove plants such as mangroves, mangroves, karen kuk, thorn ikili, heen mangrove, birds, butterflies, fish, snakes, reptiles and amphibians increase the ecological value here.
Today, most of the mangrove plants have become extinct. Villagers say that some time ago rice cultivation was more popular in this wet environment. Five species are also found in the cork forest. The types of trees like thunhiria, urala, bark leaves etc. are found here, and the village women cut them and dry them to weave mats and bags.
Environmental features such as mangrove forests, rice paddies, lakes, irrigation canals can be seen here. Twice a year, the overflowing water of Nilwala Ganga collects in the cork forest. This also fulfills a great mission to preserve the moisture in the area during the dry season.