Is the water quality in Kandy Lake safe for swimming.

Absolutely not. Swimming in Kandy Lake is strictly prohibited by local authorities. The lake is considered highly sacred as it sits directly adjacent to the Temple of the Tooth Relic. Furthermore the water quality is notoriously poor due to urban runoff and it hosts massive monitor lizards. You must restrict your swimming entirely to designated hotel swimming pools while staying in the city or travel out to specific eco lodges along the Mahaweli river.