Explore a network of lagoons, mangroves and lush islands

The Muthurajawela Wetlands Centre is located on the Hamilton Canal (also known as the Old Dutch Canal) that stretches for 14.5km from the Kelaniya River mouth just north of Colombo, all the way to the Negombo Lagoon.

The canal is believed to have originated during the reign of King Parakramabahu VIII in the 15th century, and then later excavated by the Dutch when they arrived in Sri Lanka in the 17th century later to transport valuable spices (mainly cinnamon) from outlying villages to the country’s main west coast ports.

The boat takes you up the canal into the Negombo lagoon and wetlands, where it winds through avenues of mangroves and lush islands, making it a peaceful and relaxing way to spend your morning or afternoon.

Macaques (the only monkey species in Sri Lanka able to swim) live in the trees, water monitors scale the surface of the water like crocodiles and bird life ranges from Kingfishers and jet-black cormorants to kites, herons and terns, all of whom dive in and out of the water to feed. The lagoon itself is a breeding ground for large prawns and mud crabs which live on the mangrove beds.