Giants Tank Sanctuary
As indicated by the name this is a very large expanse of water most of which dries up during the non-rainy season. The tank and part of the adjacent forest which is 4,330 hectares in extent are protected as a sanctuary that comes under the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Being atop the bund which is by the road, birds can easily be watched or else boating round the tank.There are no suitable places around the sanctuary to stay other than Mannar.
How to get there:- Colombo - Negombo - Chilaw - Puttalam - Anuradhapura - Medawachchiya - Settikulam - Murunkan - Giant's Tank (5 1/2 hours).
BIRDS: Openbill, Common Coot, Pheasant-Tailed Jacana, Cotton Teal, Rufous-Rumped Shrike, Black Drongo, Collared Dove,Pintail, Cinnamon Bittern, Gargeny, Kestrel, Great Cormorant, Striated Weaver, Baya Weaver, Spot-Billed Pelican, PurpleCoot, etc.
