visiting parks

Hi,
The national park that is considered the best to visit, mainly because it has regular sightings of leopards is Yala, in the south east of the island.
Usually, Yala closes late sept through into October because it gets so dry, and the animals get grouchy as the water holes dry out .
However, I've heard, that this year, probably because the war has ended and they are trying to boost visitor numbers, that the authorities are trying to pump water into the water holes to avoid closure.
So, Yala in late Sept and Oct. is in the lap of the gods.

The best places that you'll be sure of finding open for animals, mainly elephants, are Udawalawe , sort of central southern area and Minneriya towards the north of the cultural triangle, near to Polonorua.

The other main national parks are Sinharaja Rain forest reserve and Hortons Plains.. Both in the southern parts of the central highlands.

Sinharaja is best known for birds etc and the fact that it's the only decent size area of ancient rain forest left ,
Hortons Plains is a highland plain , not unlike an English moorland. Mainly visited for the views of the Worlds End, when it's not misty , Bakers Falls and the flora, which again is like English Moorland with lots of gorse and some cloud forest.

Rod.

Thanx, Rod, for your informative reply. Where can I confirm that Yala is indeed open next month? I'm having trouble getting info on the net. Mindful that there are zillions of things to see and do any any time of the year in SL, the ability to visit Yala would still have an impact in deciding whether to go to SL or to S. India next month.