Minneriya National Park is a national park in North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The area was nominated as a national park on 12 August 1997, having been originally announced as a wildlife sanctuary in 1938. However the central feature of the park is the ancient Minneriya Tank (built in 3rd century AD by King Mahasena).
The park consists of mixed evergreen forest and scrub areas and is home to Sri Lanka’s favourites such as sambar deer, leopards and elephants. Large numbers of Sri Lankan elephants are attracted to grass fields on the edges of the reservoir of the dry season. The Minneriya tank contributes to sustain a large herd of elephants.