Pigeon Island, one of Sri Lanka’s two marine national parks, is a popular tourist attraction on the East Coast. Pigeon Island, about 1km from the picturesque seaside town of Nilaveli, is named for the endangered Blue Rock Pigeon, which is unique to the island. The islands were initially recognised as a bird sanctuary in 1963, and subsequently as a national park in 2003. The region is made mainly many large and little pigeon islands. It’s also noted for having some of Sri Lanka’s best preserved coral reefs, as the coral reefs that rim massive Pigeon Island are almost 200 feet long and 100 metres broad. Its waters are home to 300 different species of coral reef fish, as well as juvenile and adult Black-tip reef sharks and sea turtles, making it a sight to see.