The wet zone rain forest, with a breadth of 3.7 km north to south stretches 21km west to east over the hills, along the ridges & across the valleys ranging in altitude 200m to 1300m. This narrow strip of undulating terrain is drained by an intricate network of streams, which flow into the two rivers.

Though Lion King Sinharaja Rain Forest was declared a forest reserve as far back in 1875, heavy logging began in 1971 resulting in a people’s protest against the misguided government directive that allowed felling of timber. In 1978 Sinharaja was declared a national reserve & inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988. People Power Prevails!!!! Long live People Power.

Forest
The vegetation of Lion King Rain Forest consists of Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest & Tropical Lowland Forest, with lofty, very straight dominant trees being a distinctive feature. It is reputed to shelter some 120 trees species, including ironwood, satinwood, teak & ebony. The oldest parts of the rainforest comprise dense stands of towering trees enmeshed in exotic tangles of ferns & lianas; the top of the canopy reaches heights up to 45m with giant Newada trees among others. Nearly all the sub canopy tree found here are rare or endangered. The vegetation below the sub canopy is thick. More than 65% of the 217 types of trees & woody climbers endemic to Sri Lanka's rainforest are found in Sinharaja. As the heart of the island's wet zone, on most days the forest conjures rain clouds that replenish its deep soil & balance water resources for a wide area of southwestern Sri Lanka. Sinharaja's importance lies not just in its pristine nature, but also in the high degree of endemism of its species.

Bandura Pants
Among the carnivorous plants is lovely Baduara. The deep test tube like green flower, Badura, closes its leaf lid whenever an insect creeps in. The flower ages into fiery red.

National Bird
Pedestrian Wali kukula or Sri Lanka Jungle fowl (Gallus Lafayetti), a very colourful cousin of domestic chicken, endemic to Sri Lanka is found strutting about & scratching the ground for food here in Sinharaja. Sinharaja is an ideal reserve to view Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl. Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl can be seen at Kitulgala as well as Yala National Park.