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 or a Tamil 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 , 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.
List of major rivers (over 100km in length)
NameMap Length Source DrainageImageLocation of mouth Mahaweli River Horton Plains Trincomalee Malvathu River Inamaluwa Mountains Vankalai Kala Oya Matale Hills near Nalanda Gangevadiya Wilpattu Kelani River Horton Plains Colombo Yan Oya Ritigala Pulmoddai Deduru Oya Gommuna Mountains Chilaw Walawe River Horton Plains Ambalantota Maduru Oya Akurugala Mountains Kalkudah Maha Oya Rakshawa Mountains Kochchikade Kalu Ganga Peak Wilderness Sanctuary Kalutara Kirindi Oya Namunukula Bundala Kumbukkan Oya Lunugala Kumana Menik Ganga Namunukula Yala Gin Ganga Kabaragala Mountains Gintota Mi Oya Kuda Madagala Mountains Puttalam North Gal Oya Hewa Eliya Mountains Oluvil
List of minor rivers (up to 100km in length)
Name Length Source DrainageLocation of mouthAttanagalu Oya76 km (47 mi)Kegalle District Negombo LagoonNilwala Ganga72 km (45 mi)Rakwana MountainsIndian Ocean5°57′N 80°32′E Kanakarayan Aru Semamadu Kulam Chundikkulam Lagoon Kotmale River Horton Plains National Park Mahaweli River Parangi Aru Vavuniya District Palk Strait Kehelgamu Oya Horton Plains Kelani River Pali Aru Puliyankulam Palk Strait Maskeliya Oya Peak Wilderness Sanctuary Kelani River Nay Aru Vavuniya District Palk Strait Per Aru Vavuniya District Nanthi Lagoon Mandekal Aru Mullaitivu District Palk Strait Nanu Oya Pidurutalagala Kotmale River Pallavarayankaddu Aru Mullaitivu District Palk Strait Akkarayan Aru Mullaitivu District Jaffna Lagoon Netheli Aru Mullaitivu District Chundikkulam Lagoon Theravil Aru Mullaitivu District Chundikkulam Lagoon Nay Aru Mullaitivu District Nai Aru Lagoon Piramenthal Aru Mullaitivu District Chundikkulam Lagoon Kodalikkallu Aru Mullaitivu District Nanthi Lagoon Valukkai Aru Jaffna District Jaffna Lagoon 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
Gallery
See also
List of dams and reservoirs in Sri Lanka List of waterfalls in Sri Lanka
References