The Sinharaja forest is the only undisturbed rain forest left in Sri Lanka. It is about 9000 hectares in extent. Many of the plants are very rare. Over 60% of the tree species are found only in the lowland wet zone of Sri Lanka If these species of trees are allowed to get destroyed, the world would lose them altogether. So it is important that much effort is made to conserve this rich, valuable and fragile habitat.
The Sinharaja rain forest is the largest rain forest reserve in Sri Lanka. In 1840 Sinharaja became a crown propety. In 1988 the Sinharaja was made a National Wilderness area. In 1989 UNESCO included the Sinharaja Forest in the World Heritage list, as the first National Heritage of Sri Lanka.
The Sinharja forest is home to many rare animals, birds, butterflies, insecte, reptiles and trees. Ferns and mosses grow well as the climate is humid because of heavy rainfall.
