Overview
The most visited and largest national park in Sri Lanka is Yala National Park, which borders the Indian Ocean. It consists of five blocks. Two of them are open to the public now, as well as adjoining parks. Each block is named Ruhuna National Park (Block 1) and Kumana National Park (or ‘Yala East) for the adjacent area. It is located in the country’s southeast, in Southern Province and Uva Province. It covers 979 km (378 mi) in area and is approximately 300 km (190 mi) away from Colombo. Yala was established as a wildlife sanctuary on May 1, 1900. It was also designated by Wilpattu in 1938. It is well-known for its wide range of wild animals. It is vital for conservation of Sri Lankan elephants, Sri Lankan Leopards, and aquatic birds.