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This is the longest and the largest of snake species in the country. It is a non-venomous species found through out the wooded and scrubland areas of the country except for the highest hills. Other than Sri Lanka this species is also found in India, southern Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh and north of Myanmar.

The conservation status of this species is regarded as Least Concerned (National Red List 2012).

This is a species protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended by Act No. 22 of 2009.

I have seen the Python at many locations through out the country. In the wet zone they are found in most of the forested areas. They are still found occasionally in the paddy fields in the suburbs of Colombo. I have seen them in most dry zone national parks including Yala, Udawalawa, Minneriya, Galoya, Nilgala, Lunugamvehera, Wasgomuwa and Bundala. In the wet zone they often stray in to poultry farms and gardens by Tea, Rubber and Coconut plantations. In the wet zone I have seen them at the Peak Wilderness, Sinharaja forest, Kanneliya, Knuckles forest reserve, Kelani Vally forest reserve and at Athwelthota. They are still found at most of the fragmented forests around Buddhist hermitages such as such as Meethirigala, Dombagaskanda, Madakada and Kalugala.

In Wilpattu this is a seldom seen species due to its nocturnal habits. I have seen it at Manikkapola Uttu, Periya Villu and at Hunuwilagama.