Lanka's mountains and rivers

by Sumana Saparamadu

A reader writing about our country wrote “Pidurutalagala” and “Samanala” are the highest mountains in Sri Lanka. Pidurutalagala is the highest mountain, but Samanala is not the second highest. The mountains in order of height (in metres) are:

1.Pidurutalagala – 2524

Diyaluma waterfall

2.Kirigalpotta – 2395
3.Totupola – 2357
4.Kikiliyamana – 2240
5.Samanala – 2238
6.Namunukula – 2036

The Mahaweli is the longest river. Its length is 355 km. What is the second longest? The second in length is the Malwatu Oya, also known as Aravi Aru in Tamil. It rises in the central hills and flows from North-West past Anuradhapura and falls into the Gulf of Mannar.

Dunhinda waterfall

Other rivers in order of length in kilometres are

The Kelani – 145
The Yan Oya – 142
The Walawe – 138
The Kalu – 129
The Menik – 114
The Gin – 113

All rivers flowing to the West, South and South-East are called gangas, like the longest river the Mahaweli. Look at a map from the Kelani to the Menik all are Gangas.

The Panadura ganga
The Kalu ganga
The Bentara ganga
The Gin ganga
The Nilwala ganga
The Walawe ganga
The Menik ganga

Mahaweli river

All other rivers are called Oyas. From Attanagalu Oya Northwards they are all Oyas – Ma, Deduru, Mee, Kala and rivers in the North and East are Aaru: Aaru is Tamil for river. The one exception is Yan Oya which rises in the Matale hills, flows North-East and falls into the Bay of Bengal North of Kuchchaveli.

The writer also mentions Diyaluma and Dunhinda. They are the best known waterfalls; there are many others. They are known as Ella. Bambarakanda is the highest. Among others are Devon, St. Clairs, Elgin, Aberdeen, Laxapana, Baker's, Ravana.