Pigeon Island

Pigeon Island National Park is a marine sanctuary located approximately 1 km off the coast of Nilaveli, a coastal town in Sri Lanka's Eastern Province. Established in 2003, it is one of the country's two marine national parks and is renowned for its rich biodiversity, including over 100 species of coral and more than 300 species of reef fish. The park comprises two islands: the larger Pigeon Island, which is about 200 meters long and 100 meters wide, and the smaller one surrounded by rocky islets. The name "Pigeon Island" derives from the rock pigeon that has colonized the area. The park also serves as a breeding ground for various marine species, including juvenile and adult blacktip reef sharks, hawksbill turtles, green turtles, and olive ridley turtles.