A Coastal wetland of Natural origin located in the Dry Zone of the Southern province.Maha Lewaya (260ha) and Karagan Lewaya (900ha) are naturally formed hyper-saline shallow lagoons, which serve as important refuges for migratory water birds. Karagan Lewaya is separated from the sea by the main Colombo-Hambantota road and by sand dunes, with the only connection to the sea being man-made flood control channels. Maha Lewaya has been developed for salt production. This area is also very important as a corridor for elephant populations that generally move between Bundala, Lunugamvehera and Udawalawe National Parks and Madunagala forest reserve. The lagoon is about 3.5km long and 1-2km wide. Two types of vegetation are distinguishable: predominantly thorn scrub forests of the catchment and salt-tolerant vegetation of the lagoon (exclusively phytoplankton). Being a shallow wetland surrounded by mudflats, it serves as an excellent habitat for wading birds, particularly migratory birds. Karagan Lewaya acts as an alternative feeding ground for the migratory birds that come to the wetlands within Bundala National Park every year. Many species of resident and migratory water birds use these two shallow lagoons as feeding sites. These include cormorants (Phalacrocorax niger , P. fuscicollis), large water birds (Ardea cinerea, Threskiornis melanocephalus, Anastomus oscitans, Pelecanus philippensis), medium sized waders (Tringa spp.) and small waders (Charadrius spp.). Flocks of the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) also visit these wetlands occasionally.

Maha and Karagan Lewaya Related references