An Inland wetland of Man-made origin located in the Wet Zone of the Central province. Kotmale reservoir is the uppermost impoundment of the Mahaweli River, constructed in 1985 under the Accelerated Mahaweli Development Programme for hydropower generation. More than 12 species of fish have been recorded. Important food fish include three exotics (Oreochromis mossambicus Oreochromis niloticus and Cyprinus carpio) and natives such as Tor khudree. Aquatic herpetofauna include the endemic Lankanectus corrugata (streams around the reservoir). Birds are dominated by egrets (Egretta garzetta), herons (Ardeola grayii) and kingfishers (Alcedo atthis, Halcyon smyrnensis). Rare raptors include Elanus caeruleus. Mammals include Lutra lutra and Prionailurus viverrinus. The reservoir riparian areas and associated streams harbour several endemic crab species (Perbrinkia spp. and Ceylonthelphusa spp.). Common plant species in riverine forests around the reservoir include Artocarpus nobilis, Bambusa vulgaris, Bhesa zeylanica, Caryota urens, Celtis cinnamomoides, Entada pusaetha, Ficus nervosa, Ficus racemosa, Freycinetia pycnophylla, Mangifera zeylanica, Nephrolepis hirsulata, Ochlandra stridula, Pagiantha dichotoma, Pandanus kaida, Panicum gardneri, Phragmites karka and Phyllanthus indicus. A highly threatened aquatic plant, Zeylanidium aff. lichenoides (Family Podostemaceae), was recently discovered in a stream in the upstream area of the reservoir.

Kotmale Reservoir Related references