Namal Uyana declared National Heritage site

Colombo, March 18 (Daily Mirror) - The Cabinet has approved a proposal to declare Namal Uyana, the country’s largest ironwood forest, as a national heritage site.

Spanning approximately 602 hectares, the site has already been designated as a protected forest and is regarded as one of Sri Lanka’s most significant locations for both environmental and archaeological value.

The decision follows recommendations by an expert subcommittee tasked with identifying national heritage sites, which highlighted the area’s unique combination of geological, ecological and cultural importance.

Namal Uyana is also home to a rare pink quartz mountain range, considered a notable geological formation with distinct mineral and scientific value. 

The area further supports a dry zone forest ecosystem and includes landscapes linked to ancient Buddhist monastic settlements.