Madu River

A boat trip on the Madu Ganga river at Balapitiya is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to see the huge number of animal and plant species that thrive on Sri Lanka’s premier wetland area. The river, which for centuries was a vital waterway serving the region’s historical hinterland, channels fresh water into this life-sustaining mangrove ecosystem, the biggest and best in the country. Boat trips allow visitors to not only experience the full wonder of the wetland’s amazing biodiversity, but also see up close how fishing and cinnamon cultivation provide the mainstays of the local economy.