28/02/2026
There are 4 Wild Cats in Sri Lanka –
The ‘Rusty Spotted Cat’ (කොල දිවියා) is the smallest wild cat in the world, weighing between 1-2 KG. There are 3 subspecies, and 2 subspecies are found in Sri Lanka. Population is less than 1000 (both India & SL combined).
The ‘Jungle Cat’ (වල් බළලා/කැලෑ බළලා) is mostly found in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. They are similar in appearance to a large domestic cat, and can weigh between 5-10 KG. Population in SL is unknown.
The ‘Fishing Cat’ (හඳුන් දිවියා/අඳුන් දිවියා) is the 2nd largest wild cat in Sri Lanka, weighing between 8 -16 KG. Mostly found in wetland habitats, these cats are fond of water unlike other felines. Population in SL is unknown. Overall, there maybe less than 3000 Fishing Cats in the wild.
The ‘Sri Lankan Leopard’ (ශ්රී ලංකා කොටියා) is the largest wild cat in Sri Lanka. Unlike India or Africa, the leopard is the top terrestrial carnivore in the island. Generally, male leopards weigh between 60-80 KG. It’s estimated that there are less than 1000 leopards in SL.
* Regarding Sinhala Names – apart from whether the leopard is called ‘kotiya’ (කොටියා) or ‘diviya’ (දිවියා), some debate exists about the Sinhala names of the smaller cats too. Seemingly, in some parts of Sri Lanka, the terms ‘කොළ දිවියා’ & ‘හඳුන් දිවියා/අඳුන් දිවියා’ is used interchangeably, and does not always refer to the Rusty Spotted Cat, Fishing Cat or vice versa. Others say the term ‘හඳුන් දිවියා’ (for the Fishing Cat) is incorrect, and that the correct term should be ‘අඳුන් දිවියා’. And the Jungle Cat is also referred to as 'කැලෑ බළලා'.