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Lahugala National Park – Sri Lanka’s Untouched Sanctuary of Elephants and History – by Bhanuka – eLanka Hidden away in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, close to the ancient city of Pottuvil and the sacred Buddhist site of Magul Maha Viharaya, lies one of the island’s smallest yet most significant national parks—Lahugala National Park. Despite its modest size of just 15.5 square kilometers, this remarkable sanctuary plays a vital role in Sri Lanka’s ecological and cultural tapestry. Designated a national park in 1980, Lahugala is part of a larger protected ecosystem that connects with Yala East (Kumana) National Park, forming a critical corridor for the island’s elephant population. During the dry season, Lahugala becomes one of the most rewarding spots in Sri Lanka to witness herds of wild elephants congregating near water bodies, grazing peacefully in open glades, or moving in their silent, majestic rhythm through the scrub forest. ...