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List of rivers of Sri Lanka

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Map showing the locations of river mouths

The following table lists most rivers of Sri Lanka. Since Sri Lanka is a trilingual country, some rivers may have a Sinhala name (i.e. Kalu Ganga), while other have an English name (i.e. Kelani River). There are two words meaning "river" in the Sinhala language, namely Ganga (ගඟ) and Oya (ඔය), of which the usage of both terms is arbitrary. At 335 km (208 mi), the Mahaweli River is the longest river on the island, its drainage basin covering more than one-fifth of the island. It is estimated that there are 103 rivers in Sri Lanka.[1]

List of major rivers (over 100km in length)

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Name Length Source Drainage Image Location of mouth Ref
Mahaweli River 335 km (208 mi) Horton Plains Trincomalee 08°27′34″N 81°13′46″E / 8.45944°N 81.22944°E / 8.45944; 81.22944 (Mahaweli River) [2]
Malvathu River 164 km (102 mi) Inamaluwa Mountains Vankalai 08°48′08″N 79°55′40″E / 8.80222°N 79.92778°E / 8.80222; 79.92778 (Malvathu River)  
Kala Oya 148 km (92 mi) Omaragolla Mountains Gangevadiya Wilpattu 08°17′41″N 79°50′23″E / 8.29472°N 79.83972°E / 8.29472; 79.83972 (Kala Oya)  
Kelani River 145 km (90 mi) Baththulu Oya Colombo 06°58′44″N 79°52′12″E / 6.97889°N 79.87000°E / 6.97889; 79.87000 (Kelani River) [2]
Yan Oya 142 km (88 mi) Ritigala Pulmoddai 08°55′04″N 81°00′58″E / 8.91778°N 81.01611°E / 8.91778; 81.01611 (Yan Oya)  
Deduru Oya 142 km (88 mi) Gommuna Mountains Chilaw 07°36′50″N 79°48′12″E / 7.61389°N 79.80333°E / 7.61389; 79.80333 (Deduru Oya)  
Walawe River 138 km (86 mi) Belihul Oya Ambalantota 06°06′19″N 81°00′57″E / 6.10528°N 81.01583°E / 6.10528; 81.01583 (Walawe River) [2]
Maduru Oya 135 km (84 mi) Akurugala Mountains Kalkudah 07°56′24″N 81°33′05″E / 7.94000°N 81.55139°E / 7.94000; 81.55139 (Maduru Oya)  
Maha Oya 134 km (83 mi) Rakshawa Mountains Kochchikade 07°16′21″N 79°50′34″E / 7.27250°N 79.84278°E / 7.27250; 79.84278 (Maha Oya)  
Kalu Ganga 129 km (80 mi) Seetha Gangula Kalutara 06°34′10″N 79°57′44″E / 6.56944°N 79.96222°E / 6.56944; 79.96222 (Kalu Ganga)  
Kirindi Oya 117 km (73 mi) Namunukula Bundala 06°11′39″N 81°17′34″E / 6.19417°N 81.29278°E / 6.19417; 81.29278 (Kirindi Oya)  
Kumbukkan Oya 116 km (72 mi) Lunugala Kumana 06°48′36″N 81°49′25″E / 6.81000°N 81.82361°E / 6.81000; 81.82361 (Kumbukkan Oya)  
Menik Ganga 114 km (71 mi) Namunukula Yala 06°21′49″N 81°31′45″E / 6.36361°N 81.52917°E / 6.36361; 81.52917 (Menik Ganga)  
Gin Ganga 113 km (70 mi) Kabaragala Mountains Gintota 06°03′47″N 80°10′27″E / 6.06306°N 80.17417°E / 6.06306; 80.17417 (Menik Ganga)  
Mi Oya 109 km (68 mi) Kuda Madagala Mountains Puttalam North 08°05′44″N 79°48′37″E / 8.09556°N 79.81028°E / 8.09556; 79.81028 (Mi Oya)  
Gal Oya 108 km (67 mi) Hewa Eliya Mountains Oluvil 07°18′01″N 81°51′54″E / 7.30028°N 81.86500°E / 7.30028; 81.86500 (Gal Oya)  

List of minor rivers (up to 100km in length)

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Name Length Source Drainage Location of mouth Ref
Attanagalu Oya 76 km (47 mi) Kegalle District Negombo Lagoon
Nilwala Ganga 72 km (45 mi) Rakwana Mountains Indian Ocean 5°57′N 80°32′E
Kanakarayan Aru 70 km (43 mi) Semamadu Kulam Chundikkulam Lagoon    
Kotmale River 70 km (43 mi) Horton Plains National Park Mahaweli River    
Parangi Aru 60 km (37 mi) Vavuniya District Palk Strait    
Kehelgamu Oya 50 km (31 mi) Horton Plains Kelani River    
Pali Aru 50 km (31 mi) Puliyankulam Palk Strait    
Maskeliya Oya 40 km (25 mi) Peak Wilderness Sanctuary Kelani River    
Nay Aru 40 km (25 mi) Vavuniya District Palk Strait    
Per Aru 32 km (20 mi) Vavuniya District Nanthi Lagoon    
Mandekal Aru 30 km (19 mi) Mullaitivu District Palk Strait    
Nanu Oya 27 km (17 mi) Pidurutalagala Kotmale River    
Pallavarayankaddu Aru 27 km (17 mi) Mullaitivu District Palk Strait    
Akkarayan Aru 25 km (16 mi) Mullaitivu District Jaffna Lagoon    
Netheli Aru 24 km (15 mi) Mullaitivu District Chundikkulam Lagoon    
Theravil Aru 23 km (14 mi) Mullaitivu District Chundikkulam Lagoon    
Nay Aru 20 km (12 mi) Mullaitivu District Nai Aru Lagoon    
Piramenthal Aru 20 km (12 mi) Mullaitivu District Chundikkulam Lagoon    
Kodalikkallu Aru 19 km (12 mi) Mullaitivu District Nanthi Lagoon    
Valukkai Aru 16 km (10 mi) Jaffna District Jaffna Lagoon    
Kukule River 06°39′10″N 80°05′42″E / 6.65278°N 80.09500°E / 6.65278; 80.09500 (Kukule River)  
Madu Ganga    
Mavil Aru    
Pusweli Oya    
Verugal Aru    

Malala oya - Hambanthota District karanda Oya - Potuvil Ampara District Heda Oya - Arugambay (Arunagamthota), Ampare District wil oya - Ampara District

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See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rivers of Sri Lanka.

References

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  1. ^ Grade 11 Geography textbook.
  2. ^ a b c "Horton Plains National Park". International Water Management Institute. Archived from the original on August 5, 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
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