Nilwala River

{{Infobox river

| name = Nilwala River

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| pushpin_map = Sri Lanka

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| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = Sri Lanka

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| length = {{Convert|72|km|mi|abbr=on}}

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| source1 = Sinharaja Forest Reserve

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| mouth_location = Matara

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|5|57|N|80|32|E|display=inline,title|region:LK_type:river}}

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| basin_size = {{convert|922|km2|abbr=on}}

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__NOTOC__

The Nilwala is a river in Southern Province in Sri Lanka. It originates in Sinharaja Forest Reserve{{Cite web|url=http://archive.riversymposium.com/index.php?element=PIYADASA|title=River Sand Mining in Southern Sri Lanka and its Effect on Environment|website=archive.riversymposium.com}} and discharges into the sea at Matara. There is no consensus on how this river got its name. It is believed that the river got its name because, in the past, the river's water was very pure blue and flowed like a blue cloud. The Nilwala River was mentioned as Neelavahini and Neelawalanadi River in ancient sources. The most straight forward meaning is 'blue bearer,' 'Blue River.{{Cite journal |last=Rathanasara |first=Kaudagammana and Gamage G.C.L |date=2023 |title=Exploring the Role of the Gaṃgārohaṇa Pūjā in Sri Lankan Religious, Social, and Political Contexts |url=https://dx.doi.org/10.31357/ijms.v10i3.7574 |journal=International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies |volume=10 |issue=iii |pages=51–67 |via=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383037822_Exploring_the_Role_of_the_Gamgarohana_Puja_in_Sri_Lankan_Religious_Social_and_Political_Contexts}}

The river is {{Convert|72|km|mi|abbr=on}}{{Cite news|url=http://efl.lk/portfolio-posts/mitigating-the-human-crocodile-conflict-in-the-nilwala-river/|title=Mitigating the Human-Crocodile Conflict in the Nilwala River - Environment Foundation (Guarantee) Limited.|work=Environment Foundation (Guarantee) Limited.|access-date=2018-07-21|language=en-US}} long and has a drainage basin of {{convert|922|km2|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/T0028E/T0028E02.htm|title=Reservoirs of Sri Lanka and their fisheries|website=www.fao.org|access-date=2018-07-21}}