Dondra Head lighthouse is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

[2] Dondra Head was one of a limited number of lighthouses that were designed to house the large Hyperradiant Fresnel lenses that became available at the end of the 19th century.

[4] The rotating lens however was removed in 2020 and replaced by a static flashing LED light which has reduced the visibility range of the lighthouse considerably.

The lighthouse is 49 m (161 ft) high[3] and contains 7 floors, 14 two panel yellow colour windows and 196 steps to the top.

It was modernized in 2000, with the introduction of a Differential Global Positioning System and is computer linked to the other major lighthouses around the coast.