Where ecological uniqueness, cultural legacy, and hydrological importance meet
Kiriamma Ulpatha is a rare freshwater swamp forest, one of the very few of its kind in Sri Lanka. It lies at the base of the Kaluganga valley in the eastern slopes of the Knuckles mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage conservation area. The location is exceptionally significant due to the abrupt ecological transition from the mist-laden montane cloud forests to the dry semi-evergreen forests bathed in sunlight – an extraordinary habitat shift occurring over a short span of elevation.
The Knuckles massif, celebrated for its high biodiversity and ecological value, also plays a key role in regional hydrology. Numerous springs, rivulets and streams emerge from this range, feeding major rivers such as the Kalu Ganga, Heen Ganga and Theligam Oya. Kiriamma Ulpatha stands out as a spring-fed swamp forest, reflecting the massif’s remarkable water-retaining geology and its intimate link with this forest ecosystem.
Sacred springs of Kiriamma Ulpatha – Where devotion meets the forest
These freshwater swamp forest trees develop stilt roots and knee roots (pneumatophores), features more commonly seen in mangroves
Dulan Madusanka Weerasekara who has ancestral roots to the area, says this forest patch was once part of a vast natural landscape surrounding the remote village of Dagavilla. The village vanished, for reasons still unclear, and the forest remained isolated for decades, known only to a few hunters and village elders, until new roads opened up the area once more.
The situation changed dramatically with the Moragahakanda–Kaluganga multipurpose development project which cleared large tracts of land for paddy fields, roads and the resettlement town of Laggala. It was only after strong appeals from local residents that this remaining fragment of forest was spared.
The name Kiriamma Ulpatha comes from a perennial freshwater spring bubbling from the earth. It forms the heart of this swamp forest, inundating flat terrain and feeding a network of slow-moving rivulets. The consistency of this flow even in the dry season indicates a stable underground aquifer, likely recharged by the rain-fed Knuckles massif.
Freshwater swamp forests are globally rare, more commonly seen in Southeast Asia, tropical Africa, and South America. Vegetation in these forests is adapted to survive in waterlogged conditions. Freshwater swamp forests contain soft, unstable and anoxic soil which may have influenced the evolution of unique root adaptations in these trees that resemble those seen in a real mangrove forest.
The exceptional Myristica swamps with dominant tree species belonging to the Myristicaceae ( nutmeg) family of India’s Western Ghats and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are globally recognized for their evolutionary significance. With its entanglement of aerial roots, canopy of dark green large leaves, and high degree of endemism, the swamp is one of the most primeval ecosystems. The present-day geographic distribution of the nutmeg family members is considered enough evidence of the origin of the family before the breakup of the Gondwanaland into present day landmasses and termed one of ‘living fossils’, which due to some favourable circumstances escaped extinction.
In Sri Lanka, very few freshwater swamp forests remain, mostly in the wet lowlands such as the Walauwatta–Wathurana swamp forest. These are considered the rarest wetland type in the country.
Unique root adaptations of Horsfieldia iryaghedhi (Ruk) and Myristica ceylanica (Malaboda)
The discovery of Kiriamma Ulpatha as a rare Myristica swamp in a comparatively drier part of the island is therefore extraordinary. Its species composition differs from that of its Indian counterparts. Dominating its canopy are two endemic and threatened Myristicaceae species—Horsfieldia iryaghedhi (Ruk) and Myristica ceylanica (Malaboda). These remarkable trees have evolved special survival strategies to cope with swampy ground: stilt roots that anchor them firmly in soft soils, and knee roots, or pneumatophores, which rise above the surface to draw in oxygen from the air – an unusual feature more often seen in mangroves.
Through our fieldwork and observations, we identified Kiriamma Ulpatha as a rare type of Myristica swamp forest, globally uncommon ecosystem. The dominance of key Myristicaceae species, their distinctive root adaptations, the swampy soil conditions, and the hydrological setting all provide compelling evidence for this classification.
A review of scientific literature on freshwater swamp forests, including comparative studies from India and other countries, further supports these findings. Veteran botanist Sarath P. Ekanayake, Consultant to IUCN Sri Lanka and a contributor to the National Red List of Threatened Species, who had previously taken part in a survey of this area affirms this.
“During my botanical survey in 2013, I came across a remarkable assemblage of large Myristicaceae trees within Kiriamma Ulpatha. The site represents a distinct freshwater swamp ecosystem—rare in Sri Lanka and ecologically comparable to the Myristica swamps of the Western Ghats. The survival of these water-loving trees in such a relatively dry landscape highlights the exceptional hydrological and ecological value of the area. Many similar swamp forests in valley bottoms have disappeared over time due to wetland conversion for paddy cultivation, making the conservation of this site particularly important.”
Inside the Kiriamma Ulpatha swamp forest, where groundwater-fed streams sustain a distinctive and little-known ecosystem
Beyond the nutmeg trees, the forest harbours an impressive array of nationally threatened species:
- Diospyros ebenum (Kaluwara)
- Memecylon angustifolium (Korakaha)
- Diyaminauclea zeylanica
(Diya Mee)
- Anodendron parviflorum (Aswel)
- Cryptocoryne beckettii
- Thailentadopsis nitida
(Diya Mara)
- Madhuca neriifolia (Gan Mee)
The faunal diversity is also notable. Endemic amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, and freshwater fish thrive here. One standout species is the endemic and endangered freshwater crab Oziotelphusa minneriyaensis.
The Knuckles region, including Kiriamma Ulpatha, is one of the most critical areas for hydrological stability in the country. With consistent rainfall feeding aquifers, springs, and river systems, this area ensures water availability for both ecosystems and people downstream. Unfortunately, unsupervised human activity ranging from destructive rituals to infrastructure development now threatens the forest’s fragile balance.
Given its ecological uniqueness, cultural legacy, and hydrological importance, Kiriamma Ulpatha must be declared an Environmentally Protected Area. Such designation under national environmental regulations will provide it the legal recognition and management it urgently needs.
(The writer is a member of the Youth Exploration Society of Sri Lanka)
| Spiritual significance | |
| Beyond its ecological and hydrological value, Kiriamma Ulpatha holds a deep cultural and spiritual significance.Known today as sacred groves in the Western Ghats, these Myristica swamp forests still hold high cultural and traditional value to communities, harking back to a belief in divine retribution for disturbing sacred forests. Such deep-rooted spiritual beliefs can sometimes act as powerful conservation tools.Kiriamma Ulpatha is dedicated to Goddess Pattini, who is worshipped for fertility and health. Villagers believe it is protected by the spirit of the goddess to whom rituals are still performed. One folk tale recounts how a virtuous woman known as “Kiriamma” helped local villagers and was later deified. Others claim the area to be the birthplace of Queen Kuveni of ancient Sri Lanka, as the Laggala region is believed to have been home to her Yakkha tribe. Some traditions even state that the village of Dagavilla was destroyed as divine punishment for stealing golden sickles gifted by the gods and for killing a sacred golden eel that lived in the spring. Ancient ruins – stone pillars, pottery and carvings found in the area have been unfortunately destroyed by treasure hunters. |
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