The lagoon is connected to the Indian Ocean by a narrow channel to the north, near the town of Thondamannar. The lagoon's water is brackish to saline. There is a sluice gate at Thondamannar to prevent sea water entering the lagoon.[1]
S.W. Kotagama, Leonard Pinto and Jayampathi L. Samarakoon. "Sri Lanka"(PDF). Wetlands International. Archived from the original(PDF) on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2009.