The second longest river in Sri Lanka is the Malwathu Oya (also spelled Malvathu River), which has a length of approximately 164 kilometers (102 miles). It originates in the North Central Province, specifically from the Ritigala and Inamaluwa Hills, and flows northwest to enter the sea at the Gulf of Mannar near Mannar. The river is historically significant as it connects the ancient city of Anuradhapura to the coast. It flows through paddy and forest lands and supports irrigation and local agriculture. The Malwathu Oya basin covers an area of about 3,284 square kilometers
. In comparison, the longest river in Sri Lanka is the Mahaweli River, which is about 335 kilometers (208 miles) long and has the largest drainage basin on the island
