Sanctuaries are a class of protected areas in Sri Lanka and are administered by the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Sanctuaries are governed by the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (No. 2) of 1937 and may be created, amended or abolished by ministerial order.[1] All wildlife in sanctuaries are protected but the habitat is only protected in state-owned land, allowing human activities to continue on privately owned land.[1] Activities prohibited in sanctuaries include hunting, killing or removing any wild animal; destroying eggs/nests of birds and reptiles; disturbing of wild animals; and interfering in the breeding of any animal.[1] Permission is not required to enter sanctuaries. There are currently 61 sanctuaries which together cover an area of 2779.5396km2.
| Sanctuary Name | Location | Established [2] | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| km² | mi² | |||
| Anawilundawa Ramsar Wetland National Sanctuary | 13.97km2 | |||
| Anuradhapura National Sanctuary | 35.005km2 | |||
| 306.699km2 | ||||
| 3.72km2 | ||||
| Budhangala National Sanctuary | 18.413km2 | |||
| Bundala-Wilmanna National Sanctuary | 33.394km2 | |||
| Dahaiyagala National Sanctuary | 26.851km2 | |||
| Elahera-Girithale National Sanctuary | 140.352km2 | |||
| Eluwilayaya National Sanctuary | 1.86km2 | |||
| Gal Oya Valley North East | 124.32km2 | |||
| Gal Oya Valley South East National Sanctuary | 152.81km2 | |||
| Galway's Land National Sanctuary | 0.566km2 | |||
| 43.301km2 | ||||
| Godawaya National Sanctuary | 2.32km2 | |||
| Great Sober Island National Sanctuary | 0.647km2 | |||
| Hikkaduwa Coral Gardens Marine National Sanctuary & National Park | 1.016km2 | |||
| Honduwa Island National Sanctuary | 0.085km2 | |||
| Kahalla-Pallekele National Sanctuary | 216.9km2 | |||
| Kalametiya Lagoon National Sanctuary | 25.252km2 | |||
| Katagamuwa National Sanctuary | 10.036km2 | |||
| Kataragama National Sanctuary | 8.377km2 | |||
| 9.53km2 | ||||
| Kimbulwana Oya National Sanctuary | 4.921km2 | |||
| Kiralakela National Sanctuary | 3.1km2 | |||
| Kirama National Sanctuary | 0.05km2 | |||
| 19.95km2 | ||||
| Kudumbigala-Panama National Sanctuary | 65.339km2 | |||
| Kurulu Kele (Kegalle) National Sanctuary | 1.133km2 | |||
| Little Sober Island National Sanctuary | 0.065km2 | |||
| Madampawila Lagoon National Sanctuary | 12.175km2 | |||
| Maduganga Ramsar Wetland National Sanctuary | 23km2 | |||
| Madunagala National Sanctuary | 9.952km2 | |||
| Maembulkanda-Nittabuwa National Sanctuary | 0.235km2 | |||
| Mahakanadarawa Wewa National Sanctuary | 5.193km2 | |||
| Medinduwa National Sanctuary | 0.008km2 | |||
| Mihintale National Heritage Sanctuary | 9.996km2 | |||
| Muthurajawela Block I National Sanctuary | 10.289km2 | |||
| Muthurajawela Block II National Sanctuary | 2.568km2 | |||
| Nimalawa National Sanctuary | 10.658km2 | |||
| Padaviya Tank National Sanctuary | 64.75km2 | |||
| Rathgama Lagoon National Sanctuary | 1.896km2 | |||
| 223.791km2 | ||||
| Polonnaruwa National Sanctuary | 15.216km2 | |||
| Ravana Falls National Sanctuary | 19.32km2 | |||
| Rekawa National Sanctuary | 2.71km2 | |||
| Hikkaduwa - Ambalangoda Rocky Islets National Sanctuary | 0.012km2 | |||
| Rumassala National Sanctuary | 1.707km2 | |||
| Sakamam National Sanctuary | 6.164km2 | |||
| Senanayake Samudra National Sanctuary | 93.24km2 | |||
| Seruwila-Allai National Sanctuary | 155.4km2 | |||
| Sigiriya National Sanctuary | 50.99km2 | |||
| Sri Jayawardenapura National Sanctuary | 4.492km2 | |||
| Tabbowa National Sanctuary | 21.933km2 | |||
| Tangamale National Sanctuary | 1.315km2 | |||
| Telwatta Lagoon National Sanctuary | 14.245km2 | |||
| Trincomalee Naval Headworks National Sanctuary | 181.3km2 | |||
| 1.04km2 | ||||
| 48.39km2 | ||||
| Vavunikulam National Sanctuary | 48.562km2 | |||
| Victoria-Randenigala-Rantambe National Sanctuary | 420.873km2 | |||
| Wirawila-Tissa National Sanctuary | 41.642km2 | |||
| Welhella-Kategilla National Sanctuary | 1.343km2 | |||
| Wilpattu North National Sanctuary | 6.32km2 | |||
| Total | 2779.5396km2 | |||