Dehiwala Zoological Garden

A visit to the Dehiwala Zoological Garden is quite an experience to have if you are a wildlife enthusiast. The zoo has around 2,500 to 3,000 animals, the numbers vary due to breeding and free living bird colonies.

The Zoo was first opened in 1936 and is one of the oldest zoological gardens in Asia. It is located closer to the Galle road, and about 10 kms from Colombo City. The zoo has a huge collection of animals including, fish, birds, butterflies, cats, elephants and reptiles. However many animal lovers state that the zoo is one of the most abusive, where animals live in a sad state, and as a result some of the animals were moved to wider spaces to live in.

It's best to visit the place as early as possible to avoid the heat and also to the crowds. The zoo is open from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM (tickets counter closes at 5:30PM). Tickets are priced at

Local Adult	LKR 100.00
Local Children (3-12)	LKR 30.00
Local Children (educational groups)	LKR 20.00
Overseas Adult	LKR 2500.00
Overseas Children	LKR 1250.00
SAARC Region Adults	LKR 700.00
SAARC Region Children	LKR 350.00