×

MY SRI LANKA

Pigeon Island

feature-img
feature-img
feature-img
feature-img
feature-img
feature-img
feature-thumb
feature-thumb
feature-thumb
feature-thumb
feature-thumb
feature-thumb

Pigeon Island National Park is one of the two marine national parks of Sri Lanka. The national park is situated 1 km off the coast of Nilaveli, a coastal town in Eastern Province, encompassing a total area of 471.429 hectares. The island's name derives from the rock pigeon which has colonized it. The national park contains some of the best remaining coral reefs of Sri Lanka. Pigeon Island was designated as a sanctuary in 1963. In 2003 it was redesignated as a national park. This national park is the 17th in Sri Lanka. The island was used as a shooting range during the colonial era.

Pigeon Island consists of two islands; large pigeon island and small pigeon island. The large pigeon island is fringed by a coral reef, and is about 200 m long and 100 m wide. Its highest point is 44.8 m above mean sea level. The small pigeon island is surrounded by rocky islets. The national park is situated within the dry zone of Sri Lanka.

Many of the 100 species of corals and 300 coral reef fishes recorded around the Trincomalee area are found in the national park. Juvenile and adult blacktip reef shark are seen around the shallow coral areas. Hawksbill turtle, green turtle and olive ridley are the visiting sea turtles of the coral reef. The island is important breeding ground for the rock pigeon.

Golf Play

Golf Play

Golf in Sri Lanka is a growing sport with several courses scattered across the island.

View More

Elephant Riding

Elephant Riding

Elephant riding has been a popular tourist activity in Sri Lanka for many years, particularly in ...

View More

Available Destination

Mulkirigala Rock Temple

It has been built on a 205 m high natural rock, surrounded with another four rocks known as Benag...

View More

Ritigala Forest Monastery

Ritigala is an ancient Buddhist monastery and mountain in Sri Lanka. The ruins and rock inscripti...

View More

Udawattekele Sanctuary

Udawattakele Forest Reserve, often spelled as Udawatta Kele, is a historic forest reserve on a hi...

View More

Mihintale Temple

It is believed by Sri Lankans to be the site of a meeting between the Buddhist monk Mahg Devanamp...

View More