The Bundala Biosphere Reserve (BBR), designated by UNESCO in 2005, is Sri Lanka’s only coastal biosphere reserve, covering a total area of 18,242 hectares, including 15,887 hectares of terrestrial land and 2,355 hectares of marine area. Located at approximately 6.2° latitude and 81.21° longitude, the reserve supports a population of about 27,455 people and represents a unique mosaic of ecosystems ranging from human-modified landscapes to areas of high biodiversity importance, including wetlands recognized internationally as a Ramsar Site. The Bundala National Park, which forms the core zone of the reserve, contains four brackish water lagoons rich in wetland biodiversity, supporting around 230 species of resident and migratory birds, as well as two species of crocodiles. Habitat diversity within the reserve includes beaches and sand dunes, scrublands, dry mixed evergreen and thorn forests, salt marshes, lagoons, freshwater bodies, paddy fields, home gardens, mangroves, and seasonal wetlands, making Bundala a major attraction for both local and international visitors, particularly birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts.