List of rivers of Sri Lanka facts for kids
Sri Lanka is an island country with many rivers. These rivers are very important for the people and the land. They provide water for drinking, farming, and electricity. There are about 103 rivers flowing across the island.
In Sri Lanka, some rivers have names in Sinhala, like Kalu Ganga. Other rivers might have English names, such as Kelani River. In Sinhala, there are two main words for "river": Ganga (ගඟ) and Oya (ඔය).
The longest river in Sri Lanka is the Mahaweli River. It stretches for 335 km (208 mi). This huge river's drainage basin (the area of land where all the water flows into it) covers more than one-fifth of the entire island!
Major Rivers of Sri Lanka
This section lists the main rivers in Sri Lanka that are longer than 100 kilometers.
| Name | Length | Source | Drainage Area | Image | Location of Mouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahaweli River | 335 km (208 mi) | Horton Plains | Trincomalee | Trincomalee | |
| Malvathu River | 164 km (102 mi) | Inamaluwa Mountains | Vankalai | Vankalai | |
| Kala Oya | 148 km (92 mi) | Omaragolla Mountains | Kalpitiya North | Kalpitiya North | |
| Kelani River | 145 km (90 mi) | Baththulu Oya | Colombo | Colombo | |
| Yan Oya | 142 km (88 mi) | Ritigala | Pulmoddai | Pulmoddai | |
| Deduru Oya | 142 km (88 mi) | Gommuna Mountains | Chilaw | Chilaw | |
| Walawe River | 138 km (86 mi) | Belihul Oya | Ambalantota | Ambalantota | |
| Maduru Oya | 135 km (84 mi) | Akurugala Mountains | Kalkudah | Kalkudah | |
| Maha Oya | 134 km (83 mi) | Rakshawa Mountains | Kochchikade | Kochchikade | |
| Kalu Ganga | 129 km (80 mi) | Seetha Gangula | Kalutara | Kalutara | |
| Kirindi Oya | 117 km (73 mi) | Namunukula | Bundala | Bundala | |
| Kumbukkan Oya | 116 km (72 mi) | Lunugala | Kumana | Kumana | |
| Menik Ganga | 114 km (71 mi) | Namunukula | Yala | Yala | |
| Gin Ganga | 113 km (70 mi) | Kabaragala Mountains | Gintota | Gintota | |
| Mi Oya | 109 km (68 mi) | Kuda Madagala Mountains | Puttalam | Puttalam | |
| Gal Oya | 108 km (67 mi) | Hewa Eliya Mountains | Oluvil | Oluvil |
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Smaller Rivers of Sri Lanka
This table lists rivers that are up to 100 kilometers long.
| Name | Length | Source | Drainage Area | Location of Mouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attanagalu Oya | 76 km (47 mi) | Kegalle District | Negombo Lagoon | Negombo Lagoon |
| Nilwala Ganga | 72 km (45 mi) | Rakwana Mountains | Indian Ocean | Indian Ocean |
| Kanakarayan Aru | 70 km (43 mi) | Semamadu Kulam | Chundikkulam Lagoon | Chundikkulam Lagoon |
| Kotmale River | 70 km (43 mi) | Horton Plains National Park | Mahaweli River | Mahaweli River |
| Parangi Aru | 60 km (37 mi) | Vavuniya District | Palk Strait | Palk Strait |
| Kehelgamu Oya | 50 km (31 mi) | Horton Plains | Kelani River | Kelani River |
| Pali Aru | 50 km (31 mi) | Puliyankulam | Palk Strait | Palk Strait |
| Maskeliya Oya | 40 km (25 mi) | Peak Wilderness Sanctuary | Kelani River | Kelani River |
| Nay Aru | 40 km (25 mi) | Vavuniya District | Palk Strait | Palk Strait |
| Per Aru | 32 km (20 mi) | Vavuniya District | Nanthi Lagoon | Nanthi Lagoon |
| Mandekal Aru | 30 km (19 mi) | Mullaitivu District | Palk Strait | Palk Strait |
| Nanu Oya | 27 km (17 mi) | Pidurutalagala | Kotmale River | Kotmale River |
| Pallavarayankaddu Aru | 27 km (17 mi) | Mullaitivu District | Palk Strait | Palk Strait |
| Akkarayan Aru | 25 km (16 mi) | Mullaitivu District | Jaffna Lagoon | Jaffna Lagoon |
| Netheli Aru | 24 km (15 mi) | Mullaitivu District | Chundikkulam Lagoon | Chundikkulam Lagoon |
| Theravil Aru | 23 km (14 mi) | Mullaitivu District | Chundikkulam Lagoon | Chundikkulam Lagoon |
| Nay Aru | 20 km (12 mi) | Mullaitivu District | Nai Aru Lagoon | Nai Aru Lagoon |
| Piramenthal Aru | 20 km (12 mi) | Mullaitivu District | Chundikkulam Lagoon | Chundikkulam Lagoon |
| Kodalikkallu Aru | 19 km (12 mi) | Mullaitivu District | Nanthi Lagoon | Nanthi Lagoon |
| Valukkai Aru | 16 km (10 mi) | Jaffna District | Jaffna Lagoon | Jaffna Lagoon |
| Kukule River | Kukule River | |||
| Madu Ganga | Madu Ganga | |||
| Mavil Aru | Mavil Aru | |||
| Pusweli Oya | Pusweli Oya | |||
| Verugal Aru | Verugal Aru |
Malala oya - Hambanthota District Karanda Oya - Potuvil Ampara District Heda Oya - Arugambay (Arunagamthota), Ampare District Wil Oya - Ampara District
Gallery
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Mahaweli River, Teldeniya.
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Malvathu River, Anuradhapura.
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Kelani River, Kitulgala.
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Castlereigh Reservoir on Kehelgamu Oya, a tributary of Kelani River.
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Maskeliya Oya, a tributary of Kelani River.
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Deduru Oya, Chilaw.
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Walawe River, Udawalawe Dam.
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Belihul Oya, a tributary of Walawe River.
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Maha Oya, Pinnawala.
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Kalu Ganga, Ratnapura.
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See also
- List of dams and reservoirs in Sri Lanka
- List of waterfalls in Sri Lanka
- In Spanish: Anexo:Ríos de Sri Lanka para niños
