Beddagana Wetland Park is a managed wetland beside Diyawanna Oya, in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka’s administrative capital. Boardwalks lead you out over marsh and open water close to the Parliament complex. It’s on the edge of Colombo, a short ride from the city rather than out in the countryside.
Is it worth visiting?
Go if you want an hour or two of birdwatching and quiet walking without leaving the Colombo area. It also suits anyone curious about how a city can build round a wetland instead of draining it.
Think twice if you’re after untouched wilderness. This is a compact park with boardwalks and an entrance fee, not a wild marsh. For a bigger wildlife day out, head to one of the national parks further from the city.
What’s in the park
Wooden boardwalks run out over the marshland and ponds, so you can get close to the water without trampling the habitat. The Urban Development Authority, which runs the park, describes it as a home for wetland birds, butterflies, dragonflies, fish and other animals. Its ponds sit beside the open water of Diyawanna Lake.
Two animals are worth watching for, although both are hard to spot: the otter and the fishing cat. The park supports research on the habitats of both, as well as on its butterflies and dragonflies.
History
The land was set aside in the mid-1980s, as part of a wider wildlife sanctuary around Kotte. Decades later, the Metro Colombo Urban Development Project turned part of it into the managed park you visit today. It opened to the public on 15 June 2016. The Urban Development Authority calls it a “live demonstration” of how much wetlands matter to a liveable city.
Visiting
The Urban Development Authority publishes the park’s rates on its Beddagana Wetland Park page. The visitor fees in force since 18 January 2024 are Rs 200 ($0.60 · convert) for adults and Rs 100 ($0.30 · convert) for children. Foreign visitors pay Rs 2,000 ($6.05 · convert) per adult and Rs 1,000 ($3.02 · convert) per child. These rates are before government tax. Photo shoots and events have separate charges, so check the page if you’re planning one.
The authority doesn’t publish opening hours online. Recent visitors (2025–26) report that the park opens from early morning to early evening. If you need certainty, call one of the contact numbers on the same page before you go.
Beddagana sits on Diyawanna Oya, close to the Sri Lanka Parliament. Diyasaru Park, a similar wetland park, lies on the opposite bank of the same lake. If you have time for both, they make an easy comparison.
Around Colombo
Beddagana is a good detour if you’re already spending time in Colombo. It’s a very different pace from the city’s older sights, such as Gangaramaya Temple. So it suits a morning when you want a break from traffic and temples alike.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Where is Beddagana Wetland Park?
On Diyawanna Oya in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, close to the Sri Lanka Parliament, on the edge of Colombo.
What animals can you see there?
Wetland birds, butterflies and dragonflies are the easiest sightings. Otters and fishing cats also live in the park, but both are elusive, so don’t count on seeing either.
Is there an entrance fee?
Yes. The Urban Development Authority’s published rates are Rs 200 ($0.60 · convert) for adults and Rs 100 ($0.30 · convert) for children, or Rs 2,000 ($6.05 · convert) and Rs 1,000 ($3.02 · convert) for foreign visitors, before government tax. Check its Beddagana Wetland Park page for current rates.
Is Beddagana the same as Diyasaru Park?
No, though they’re closely linked. Diyasaru Park is a separate wetland park on the opposite side of the same lake.
When did the park open?
It opened to the public on 15 June 2016, after the Metro Colombo Urban Development Project redeveloped part of an older wildlife sanctuary.
Header photo: Ooshanna / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
