Tangalle · Lagoon Wetland

Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary

A coastal lagoon and mangrove system east of Tangalle, best seen from a small boat at first light. Good for waders, herons and kingfishers, and rarely busy.

Facts checked · 10 October 2026Dates, dimensions and history on this page were reviewed against the public sources named in the text; where sources disagree, the page says so. Drive times and prices come from our own routes and rates, and are approximate.

The place

What Kalametiya actually is

Kalametiya is a lagoon, marsh and mangrove sanctuary on the south coast in Hambantota District, roughly 24 km from Tangalle. Published figures for its size vary widely, from about 700 hectares to 2,500 or more, so treat any number with caution. The area has been protected since the 1980s, and some sources date the first protection to 1938.

A 2005 study listed 161 bird species, including 121 residents and 46 winter migrants. Typical sightings are kites, herons, kingfishers and waders, with winter bringing migrants. You see it from a small paddle or motor boat on the lagoon, which is far quieter than the national parks.

It is not pristine. A Mongabay report notes that changes to upstream irrigation and the spread of invasive mangrove apple and reeds have altered the lagoon, and its open water has shrunk. It remains a pleasant morning, but go for the birds and the calm rather than a spectacle.

What to look for

Worth your attention

Waders on the shallows

Sandpipers and other migrants in winter, feeding along the mud edges.

Kingfishers and herons

Perched on branches along the channels, easiest to spot from the boat.

Brahminy kites

Common overhead, with their white heads and chestnut bodies.

Mangrove channels

Narrow reed-fringed waterways where the boat slows to a drift.

Straight advice

Before you go

Do this

Go at dawn when the birds are active and the heat is low
Ask for a boat with a quiet engine, or a paddle boat
Bring binoculars; the birds are often distant
Pair it with a drive to Hambantota or Tissamaharama

Know this first

The lagoon has been changed by irrigation and invasive plants, and open water has shrunk
Bird numbers vary by season and by the hour
Facilities are basic and shade is limited
Boat prices are not fixed; agree the fare before setting out

Where it fits

Getting to Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary

Most people see Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary as part of a stay around Tangalle. Our Tangalle guide covers where to stay, how long to give it and what else is nearby.

Coming straight from the airport, the relevant run is Colombo Airport to Tangalle — fixed price per vehicle, driver waiting inside arrivals with a name board.

Read the full Tangalle guide

From Colombo Airport

Airport → TangalleUS$ 110

Journey time3 hrs

Distance215 km

Car up to 3 passengers; vans quoted on the route page. No night surcharge.

Good to know