About 30kM from Ratnapura is the last remaining portion of rain forest of the country, the Sinharaja Forest. The forest has now been declared as a protected area. A popular tourist destination for its' eco value, bird watching, research and for curiosity. The forest is famous among the scientists for the vast number of flora and fauna and a Eco lovers' paradise on the paradise. Population increase and one time massive logging operation has decreased the extent of Sinharaja.
The forest covers an area of more than 11000 ha. Sinharaja has been regarded as a valued area from the days of the kings. Now a world heritage site protected by the government under the wilderness area. Logging, game hunting and gem mining are still a threat to the forest while the government is very much involved in conservation of the forest.
Sinharaja is arguably the best part of Sri Lanka for bird watching. There have been 21 endemic bird species spotted here, including the Layward's parakeet, green-billed coucal, chesnut-backed owlet, yellow fronted barbet, spot winged thrush.
The altitude changes from 300 metres to more than 1100 metres over the forest's 18,899 hectares. And being in the wet zone it rains most days, getting up to 5000mm a year. Sinharaja is just 30km from the sapphire area of Ratnapura and the last area of pristine rainforest in the country. You might also see locals entering the forest to collect sap and wood and leaves for their fires.
Sinharaja, meaning lion king, used to be a royal reserve and theorist say it may have been the last home of the extinct Sri Lanka Lion. Since 1989 the forest has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.