Somawathiya National Park is one of the four national parks designated under the Mahaweli River development project.[2] Somawathiya Chaitya, a stupa said to be containing a relic of the tooth of the Buddha, is situated within the park.[3] The park was created on 2 September 1986, having been originally designated a wildlife sanctuary on 9 August 1966.[4] The park is home to many megaherbivores.[1] The national park is located 266 kilometres (165 mi) north-east of Colombo.