The magical river boat ride over the Madu River wetlands begins at the Balapitiya Bridge. The mangrove islets on the river constitute a complex coastal wetland ecosystem. The Madhu river originating from the Uragasmanhandiya town region and meets the Indian ocean at Balapitiya flowing through a wide wetland covering over 900 hectares of which 770 hectares are submerged. Approximately 303 species of plants belonging to 95 families and to 248 species of vertebrate animals are found within this eco system. The Madu River was declared a wetland in 2003 under the Ramsar Convention. The island of the Kothduwa Buddhist temple, islands with Cinnamon cultivations, prawn farms, shops on stilts and fish therapy stations are some of the must visit places on the Madhu river boat safari.
