Malwathu Oya

River in Sri Lanka

Native nameමල්වතු ඔය (Sinhala)LocationCountrySri LankaPhysical characteristicsSourceInamaluwa Mountains • locationMatale and Anuradhapura Districts MouthPalk Strait

• location

Mannar, Northern Province

• coordinates

08°48′08″N 79°55′40″E / 8.80222°N 79.92778°E / 8.80222; 79.92778Length164 km (102 mi)

The Malwathu Oya (Sinhala: මල්වතු ඔය Malwathu Oya, Tamil: அருவி ஆறு Aruvi Aru) is the second longest river in Sri Lanka. The river originates in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka and enters the sea on the northwest coast, into the Gulf of Mannar, near Vankalai.^[1] It is a seasonal river that spans over 164 km (102 mi) through paddy and forest lands, which are used by the inhabitants to cultivate for their survival.^[2]^[3]

The river basin covers an area of 3,284 km² (1,268 sq mi) (with a length of 125 km (78 mi), a maximum width of 40 km (25 mi) at an average height of 85.5 m (281 ft) above sea level). The average annual rainfall in the basin area is 1,223 mm (48.1 in). The Ritigala mountain range, which comprises four main peaks (the highest of which is over 900 m (3,000 ft) high), in the upper reaches of the river, serves as the main catchment.

Tributaries

Kanadara Oya
Maminiya Oya
Kadahatu Oya
Kal Aru
Narivili Aru

References

^ Sykes, Jim (2018). The Musical Gift: Sonic Generosity in Post-War Sri Lanka. Oxford University Press. p. 74. ISBN 9780190912031.
^ Perera, PA Chintaka T.; Sundarabarathy, Thenmoli V.; Sivananthawerl, Thavananthan; Kodithuwakku, Suranga P.; Edirisinghe, Udeni (1 December 2016). "Arsenic and Cadmium Contamination in Water, Sediments and Fish is a Consequence of Paddy Cultivation: Evidence of River Pollution in Sri Lanka". Achievements in the Life Sciences. 10 (2): 144–160. doi:10.1016/j.als.2016.11.002. ISSN 2078-1520.
^ P.A.C.T. Perera, T.V. Sundarabarathy, T. Sivananthawerl, U. EdirisingheSeasonal variation of water quality parameters in different geomorphic channels of the upper Malwathu Oya in Anuradhapura, Sri LankaTrop. Agric. Res., 25 (2014), pp. 158-170

Inland waters of Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan irrigation network
- Tank cascade system
Mahaweli Authority
Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources Management

Rivers

≥100km	Deduru Oya Gal Oya Gin Ganga Kala Oya Kalu Ganga Kukule Ganga Kelani River Kehelgamu Oya Maskeliya Oya Pusweli Oya Kirindi Oya Kumbukkan Oya Maduru Oya Maha Oya Malwathu Oya Amban Ganga Kotmale Oya Nanu Oya Mahaweli Ganga Menik Ganga Mi Oya Walawe River Belihul Oya Yan Oya
<100km	Akkarayan Aru Kanakarayan Aru Kodalikkallu Aru Madu Ganga Mandekal Aru Mavil Aru Nay Aru (Mannar) Nay Aru (Mullaitivu) Netheli Aru Nilwala River Pali Aru Pallavarayankaddu Aru Parangi Aru Per Aru Piramenthal Aru Theravil Aru Valukkai Aru Verugal Aru

Lakes

Lagoons

Eastern coast	Batticaloa Lagoon Chalai Lagoon Chundikkulam Lagoon Kokkilai Lagoon Nai Aru Lagoon Nanthi Lagoon Ullackalie Lagoon Upaar Lagoon Vadamarachchi Lagoon Valaichchenai Lagoon
Western coast	Jaffna Lagoon Mundal Lagoon Negombo Lagoon Puttalam Lagoon Uppu Aru Lagoon
Southern coast	Koggala Lagoon Rekawa Lagoon Malala-Ambilikala Lagoons

Dams and
reservoirs

With hydroelectric capabilities	Bowatenna Broadlands Canyon Castlereigh Deduru Oya Dyraaba Gal Oya Kotmale Kukule Ganga Laxapana Maskeliya Moragahakanda Moragolla Nilambe Norton Polgolla Randenigala Rantembe Samanala Udawalawe Upper Kotmale Victoria
Irrigation-only (incl. ancient tanks)	Abhayavapi Diyawanna Giant's Tank Giritale Tank Inginimitiya Iranamadu Tank Kala Wewa Kalu Ganga Kandalama Kantale Konduwattuwana Wewa Lake Gregory Lunugamwehera Maduru Oya Minneriya Tank Muthuiyankaddu Kulam Nachchaduwa wewa Parakrama Samudra Puhulpola Rajanganaya Rambakan Oya Ratkinda Sorabora Wewa Tissa Wewa (Anuradhapura) Tissa Wewa (Tissamaharama) Ulhitiya Vavuni Kulam

With hydroelectric
capabilities