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The Philatelic Bureau of the Department of Posts has issued ten special stamps in the denomination of Rs.50.00 each and a Sheetlet, on 02nd February,2024 depicting ten waterfalls in Sri Lanka
| Date of Issue | 02nd February,2024 |
| Denomination | Rs.50.00 |
| Catalogue No: | CSL 2548 – CSL 2557 |
| Stamp Art By | KelumA.Gunasekara (CSL 2548 – CSL 2552) Mevan Fonseka (CSL 2553 – CSL 2557) |
| Stamp Size: | 30mm x 41mm |
| Sheet Composition: | 20 stamps per sheet |
A waterfall can be simply defined as a stream of water that starts from a highland or a plateau and flows down from a point at one end. Waterfalls flow over a river or stream, changing over time as the land changes, creating a breathtaking view.
The number of waterfalls recorded throughout Sri Lanka is over 600, which is one of the highest densities of waterfalls in a country throughout the world. A large number of these are reported from the Central Hills. Some of these beautiful waterfalls can be easily visited as they are located near the tea estates and highways, but to visit some waterfalls, one has to cross thick forests along difficult paths.
Gerandi Ella is situated in RambodaGramaNiladhari Division in the Kothmale Divisional Secretariat of the Nuwara Eliya District. This waterfall, which flows through the mountain range above KothmaleRamboda area and joins KothmaleOya, can be spectacularly seen at the Ramboda area when traveling on the Kandy - Nuwara Eliya road (A5) and at the Kothmale New Town area when traveling on the Thavalanthanna - Talawakele road. To enjoy the beauty of this approximately 100 meter- high waterfall to the fullest, one should take the road leading from Pussellawa to Perettasi Estate to Protoff Estate and reach the Gerandi Ella view point, where the starting point of the waterfall is located.
This waterfall which cascades through mountains in several falls, is looks like a rat snake in the distance and there is a belief that the name Gerandi Ella is derived from that fact.
This beautiful waterfall, popularly known as 'Surathali Ella' due to the movie 'Surathali' being shot at this location, is situated in the HalpeGramaNiladhari Division in the Imbulpe Divisional Secretariat. It has been mentioned in folklore that this waterfall was also known as 'Ganga Pura Le Oya Ella' and 'KadawathuOya Ella' in the past.
Watered by KadawathOya, which originates from the Horton Plain and Ellamana mountain range, this waterfall is 60 meters high and 2 meters wide. It flows through an angle-shaped rock and cascades through the rock, then descends into two parts, creating a picturesque scenery.
This waterfall is situated approximately 2.5 km on the PudaluOya-Nuwara Eliya road in the Kothmale Divisional Secretariat, Nuwara Eliya District, Central Province. Situated within the Dunsinane Estate, it is known as Dunsinane and also referred to as 'Pudaluoya Falls'.
A road runs through this 100-meter-high waterfall, dividing its flow into two parts separated by a road bridge. The upper part cascades through a wide, rocky, staircase-like formation, with a height of about 30 meters. This section is easily visible from the bridge. The second part, approximately 70 meters high, is concealed beneath the bridge.
Hathmale Ella holds a special place among the waterfalls in this country, as the water stream of this waterfall cascades down in seven necklaces or layers. This waterfall is popularly known as 'Hathmale Ella' due to its design of falling gradually from layer to layer.
Hathmale Ella is situated in the KolawengamaGramaNiladhari Division of the Kotapola Divisional Secretariat in the Matara District.
It stands at approximately 45 meters in height and spans 10 meters in width. It is the highest waterfall formed from the 'Gin Ganga'.
This waterfall is situated in the MokaGramaNiladhari Division in the Norwood Divisional Secretariat. It stands at a height of 25 meters.
This waterfall is known as 'Sri Pada Falls' due to its proximity to Sri Pada mountain and as 'Gartmore Falls' because it is situated in the Gartmore Estate. This waterfall is located near Mare Estate (Fishing Hut Road), approximately 5km from the Nallathanniya village in the Nuwara Eliya district.
Moray Falls is situated close to this waterfall, and some people mistakenly identify it as Sri Pada Falls. Both of these waterfalls flow into the Maussakale Reservoir. These waterfalls are also famous for being the only two waterfalls in Sri Lanka that directly feed into a reservoir.
This waterfall is located on the borders of the Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces in the UduwellaGramaNiladhari Division of the Ganga Ihala Divisional Secretariat in the Kandy District. It comprises several parts and its destination is the Aranayaka area in the Kegalle District. The height of this waterfall is approximately 100 meters. This waterfall which is called as 'The falls which the horse leapt' because, in the Walagamba era, when the king abandoned the kingdom and ran away, he has leapt his horse over this waterfall and according to folklore, it was named Asupeni Ella, later referred to as Asupini Ella.
This beautiful waterfall, situated in the Uva province, is located on the border of the Horton Plains reserve, approximately 2 km from Sri Lanka's highest waterfall, Bambara Kanda waterfall, which is found about 4 km from the Kalupahana area on the Colombo-Badulla road. The base of this 32 meter high waterfall, which is located in the WeerakongamaGramaNiladhari Division of Haldummulla Divisional Secretariat, has a shape resembling the map of Sri Lanka map and that has led to this name being applied to 'Lanka Falls'.
In the past, this waterfall was known as the 'Alidona' waterfall and today, it is called Aberdeen because it is located near the Aberdeen tea estate, owned by a white man from Aberdeen, Scotland, and it is questionable whether the name 'Alidona,' which was familiar to people, evolved into 'Aberdeen' over time. However, the uniqueness of this beautiful waterfall lies in the fact that it can be viewed from the inside due to the cave that has formed with different patterns on the natural rock over time. Some believe that this is the only waterfall in Sri Lanka that can be visited in this way.
Situated next to the Kehelgamuwa mountain range in the Ginigathhena area of the Nuwara Eliya district, this waterfall stands about 100 meters in height. It is the 18th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and originates from the KehelgamuOya, a tributary of the Kelani River.
This waterfall, approximately 10 meters in height, primarily cascades into two falls, and in the past, it was known as the 'Tea water Waterfall' or simply 'Tea Waterfall.' However, it is now recognized as Devathura Ella Falls. Situated just ahead of the new Ramboda Tunnel, it merges with the RambodaOya and ultimately flows into the Kothmale Reservoir.
This is situated in the East HawaEliyaGramaNiladhari Division which belongs to the Nuwara Eliya Divisional Secretariat. This is a breathtaking waterfall, located just 2 km away from HawaEliya on the Udupusellawa road from Nuwara Eliya town. Notably, the drinking water needed for Nuwara Eliya town is supplied from this waterfall. With a height of about 30 meters, it originates from Piduruthalagala mountain, the highest mountain in Sri Lanka. According to a local legend, a prince who lived in the past fell in love with a very beautiful girl whom he happened to see while passing through this area and as she was from a common caste, the prince's father, the king, opposed their union and sent soldiers to capture them. While climbing Piduruthalagala mountain, these lovers leapt from this waterfall with tied hands and tragically took their own lives, as there seemed to be no other escape and this incident has led to the waterfall being named 'The Waterfall Lovers Leapt' or 'Lover's Leap'.
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