World Heritage Identification Number: 1203
World Heritage since: 2010
Category: Natural Heritage
WHE Type: Natural Landscapes & Geographic Features
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Continent: Asia
UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific
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Central Highlands of Sri Lanka: A Biodiverse Haven
The Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, are a remarkable testament to the exceptional biodiversity found within this South Asian island nation. Comprising three protected areas—the Peak Wilderness Protected Area, Horton Plains National Park, and the Knuckles Conservation Forest—this mountainous region serves as a refuge for a wide array of endemic and endangered species.
Located in the south-central part of Sri Lanka, the Central Highlands rise to elevations of around 2,500 meters above sea level. This dramatic altitude gradient gives rise to a variety of ecosystems, ranging from lowland rainforests to montane cloud forests, creating ideal conditions for extraordinary levels of plant and animal diversity.
Among the many fascinating creatures that call the Central Highlands home is the montane purple-faced langur (Trachypithecus vetulus monticola). This primate, endemic to Sri Lanka, is characterized by its thick, bear-like fur coat and an exceptionally long tail used for balance while navigating the canopy. The Horton Plains slender loris (Loris tardigradus nycticeboides), another endemic species, is a nocturnal, slow-moving primate, considered critically endangered and extremely rarely observed in the wild.
The Central Highlands are also home to the elusive Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya). Operating as the island's apex predator, this subspecies is renowned for its large, robust build and its lighter coat, well-adapted to the montane environment. The Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) is another iconic species of the island, with populations estimated at around 5,000 individuals across Sri Lanka as a whole.
In addition to these charismatic megafauna, the Central Highlands boast a wealth of other wildlife, including the sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) and the Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), while the island's drier lowlands host the famous Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans). The region is also home to over 300 bird species, including the Sri Lanka junglefowl (Gallus lafayettii), the Sri Lanka woodpigeon (Columba torringtoniae), and the Sri Lanka whistling thrush (Myophonus blighi).
The Central Highlands form part of the broader Western Ghats–Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot, a globally significant region characterized by exceptionally high levels of endemism. This status underscores the importance of preserving the Central Highlands and ensuring the survival of the unique and captivating creatures that inhabit this remarkable landscape.
In summary, the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka stand as a shining example of the incredible biodiversity found within our world. With their unique ecosystems, high levels of endemism, and designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, they remain a vital stronghold for biodiversity conservation and a striking reminder of the richness of the natural world.
UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Sri Lanka's highlands are situated in the south-central part of the island. The property comprises the Peak Wilderness Protected Area, the Horton Plains National Park and the Knuckles Conservation Forest. These montane forests, where the land rises to 2,500 metres above sea-level, are home to an extraordinary range of flora and fauna, including several endangered species such as the western-purple-faced langur, the Horton Plains slender loris and the Sri Lankan leopard. The region is considered a super biodiversity hotspot.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (ix): The property includes the largest and least disturbed remaining areas of the submontane and montane rain forests of Sri Lanka, which are a global conservation priority on many accounts. The component parts stretch across the Ceylonese rainforest and the Ceylonese monsoon forest. In the montane forests represented by the three serial properties, the faunal elements provide strong evidence of geological and biological processes in the evolution and development of taxa. The endemic purple-faced langur of Sri Lanka (Semnopithecus vetulus) has evolved into several morphologically different forms recognizable today. The Sri Lankan leopard, the only representative in the island of the genus Panthera, which diverged from other felids about 1.8 million years ago, is a unique sub-species (Panthera pardus kotiya). All three nominated properties provide habitat to this subspecies of leopard, endemic to Sri Lanka. Long isolation and the concomitant evolutionary processes have also resulted in a Sri Lankan molluscan fauna that is the most distinct in the South Asian region.
Criterion (x): The montane forests in the three serial components contain the only habitats of many threatened plant and animal species and are therefore of prime importance for their in-situ conservation. The property features exceptionally high numbers of threatened species, extraordinary levels of endemism, and high levels of species richness in a number of taxonomic groups. Of the 408 species of vertebrates 83%of indigenous fresh water fishes and 81 % of the amphibians in Peak Wilderness Protected Area are endemic, 91 % of the amphibians and 89% of the reptiles in Horton Plains are endemic, and 64% of the amphibians and 51% of the reptiles in the Knuckles Conservation Forest are endemic.
Encyclopedia Record: Central Highlands of Sri Lanka
Central Highlands of Sri Lanka is a recognised World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka. The site comprises the Peak Wilderness Protected Area, the Horton Plains National Park and the Knuckles Conservation Forest. These are rain forests and montane cloud forests where the elevation reaches 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) above sea level. The region harbors a variety of mammal species including the bear monkey, Trachypithecus vetulus monticola, and the critically endangered [possibly extinct] Horton Plains slender loris, Loris tardigradus nycticeboides,.Additional Site Details
Area: 56,844 hectares
Number of Components: 3
(x) — Contains most important habitats for biodiversity
Coordinates: 7.45245 , 80.8021
IUCN World Heritage Outlook
The 2025 Conservation Outlook on Central Highlands of Sri Lanka reports the following assessment:
Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) · View assessment
Image
© Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Central Highlands of Sri Lanka from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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A reservoir induced earthquake swarm in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka
A previously undetected reservoir-induced earthquake swarm was identified beneath the Victoria Reservoir in Sri Lanka's Central Highlands, marking the first recorded instance of induced seismicity in the country. The swarm consisted of five small (M W < 3) felt earthquakes and 23 microseismic events, occurring between August and December 2020. A newly developed single-station earthquake location method, combined with seismic waveform template-matching, revealed a seismogenic zone at depths of 1.5 to 3 km beneath the reservoir's western flank. Poroelastic theory predicted peak stresses of ~15 kPa on E-W striking faults, providing a causal link between reservoir-induced stresses and the seismic activity. This study not only establishes a significant finding for Sri Lanka but also introduces efficient computational workflows for monitoring induced seismicity in resource-limited settings.
Herath, P., Attanayake, J., & Gahalaut, K. (2022). A reservoir induced earthquake swarm in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka. Scientific Reports, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-22791-z
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Assessment of physical vulnerability of buildings and socio-economic vulnerability of residents to rainfall induced cut slope failures: A case study in central highlands, Sri Lanka
A significant portion, 82%, of houses in landslide-prone areas of Sri Lanka's Central Highlands exhibit moderate vulnerability to rainfall-induced cut slope failures. This study reveals that the choice to reside in such high-risk zones is influenced by diverse community priorities and highlights a strong correlation between household per capita income and education level of the household head with increased vulnerability. The research employs a novel semi-quantitative methodology combining landslide intensity and building resistance capacity, assessed through extensive fieldwork and questionnaire surveys involving 322 households in Ambagamuwa. Regression analysis further explores this relationship, providing critical insights for disaster risk reduction strategies that consider both structural resilience and socio-economic factors to mitigate risks effectively.
Subasinghe, C. N., & Kawasaki, A. (2021). Assessment of physical vulnerability of buildings and socio-economic vulnerability of residents to rainfall induced cut slope failures: A case study in central highlands, Sri Lanka. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 65, 102550. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102550
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Density of leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya) in Horton Plains National Park in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka
Researchers have determined that the density of leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya) in Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka, is approximately 11.7 adult individuals per 100 km², marking the first robust estimate for this species in Sri Lanka's montane zone. This finding provides critical baseline data for managing the endangered, endemic Sri Lankan leopard population. The study employed remote cameras within a spatially explicit capture-recapture framework to estimate leopard density and distance sampling to assess prey availability. Notably, sambar density was found to be 178 individuals per km² in central grasslands, highlighting these areas as key resources for both sambar and leopards.
Kittle, A. M., & Watson, A. C. (2017). Density of leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya) in Horton Plains National Park in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka. Mammalia, 82(2), 183–187. https://doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2016-0139
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Children affected by severe drought in a rural community in the central highlands of Sri Lanka
Severe drought in rural Sri Lanka significantly impacts children's health, with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) being the most critical issue. A study in Serupitiya, a drought-affected village, found that 12% of school-aged children and 5% of preschoolers suffered from severe acute PEM, with malnutrition increasing significantly with age. Other prevalent health issues included respiratory infections, skin sepsis, poor oral hygiene, and disturbed sleep. Despite these challenges, preventive healthcare strategies effectively prevented PEM and micronutrient deficiencies in under-fives. The study also highlighted increased household stress levels and economic hardships, but noted no mortality among infants or under-fives and a zero drop-out rate for children under 12 years. The research used a community-based cross-sectional approach, including medical examinations, nutritional assessments, and focus group discussions to gather data from 68 households.
Senanayake, M. P., & Jayamanna, M. D. C. J. P. (2014). Children affected by severe drought in a rural community in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 43(1), 23–26. https://doi.org/10.4038/sljch.v43i1.6657
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Notes on the diet and habitat selection of the Sri Lankan Leopard Panthera pardus kotiya (Mammalia: Felidae) in the central highlands of Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya) exhibit flexible hunting strategies and habitat preferences in the fragmented central highlands, where they target a diverse range of prey—from large species like sambar deer to specialized smaller ones such as porcupines—without relying on domestic animals despite human proximity. Fecal analysis revealed no predation on dogs, suggesting atypical behavior compared to other regions. Leopards favor dense undergrowth and tall grasslands over open forests or pine plantations, likely due to avoidance of human activity. This study highlights the need for landscape-level conservation strategies beyond protected areas, addressing critical knowledge gaps in one of the world's most endangered leopard populations.
Kittle, A. M., Watson, A. C., Kumara, P. H. S. C., Sandanayake, S. D. K. C., Sanjeewani, H. K. N., & Fernando, T. S. P. (2014). Notes on the diet and habitat selection of the Sri Lankan Leopard Panthera pardus kotiya (Mammalia: Felidae) in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 6(9), 6214–6221. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.o3731.6214-21
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