Ehelapola Vella and Ehelapola Tank
Ehelapola Maha Adikaram too had the prowess like the ancient kings who
ruled in Rajarata, Maya and Ruhunu Rata, to harness streams to divert
the waters to feed the large tracts of rice fields, stretching in this
part of Sabaragamuwa.
The channel below abutting the main road to Ratnapura taking its irrigation
waters from this Kekunadola anicut (lying close to the main road to Ratnapura,
near the road junction to Kalawana) and the Commercial Company by the
roadside. to feed rice fields of Batugedera, by the road side about 2
miles away from the Ratnapura town, is said to be the channel constructed
by Ehelapola. That Ehelapola channel has been lost in obscurity after
the construction of the Kekunadola anicut during the British times.
Remains of Ehelapola Vella?
From the information I got from a few patriarchs of Batugedera, they
told me that the channel built by Ehelapola has been now completely erased
off, the present channel originates from the Kekunadola anicut built
by the British rulers of the time. I also was fortunate enough on my
trips around Batugedera to meet a vital informant, namely Mr. R. P. Nandasena,
a former member of the Urban Council, Ratnapura, representing the Batugedera
seat in the 1980's. He took me along a lane (off the main road),
called Ehelapola Mawatha, to show me some vestiges of the Ehelapola Vella-known
through out the Batugedera. Along this Ehelapola Mawatha, we changed
our course, through which we had to hack our way, through a web of entwining
creepers. He stopped at a certain spot, when he pointed to a mound of
earth that was broken here and there. Then he finally confirmed in joy,
saying "meka thama Ehelapola Vella" (meaning this is a part
of the bund of Ehelapola vella). Here we stumbled upon a decrepit small
bund the vella - paved with cobbled stones, breached here and there.
At one point, this vella-bund, in this ruinous state stretched to about
300 feet, exposing its stones, and broken pieces of rock, still clinging
on to this crumbling vella. This relic of the bund ' vella, Mr.
Nandasena confirmed was the only known remains of the vella bund built
by Ehelapola Dissawe. That's why this very lane is also named
as the Ehelapola Mawatha as it leads to this Ehelapola vella.
So at long last, the lid of this Ehelapola Vella which was still unknown,
was removed revealing some tangible vestiges of this Ehelapola vella.
When I later, inquired from the Archaeological officials about this find,
they too confirmed it to be the vella built by Ehelapola Dissawe. It
is worthwhile, if the Department of Archaeological officials further
probed into this very spot where the supposed remains of this so-called
Ehelapola Vella and explore more of its reliability, if it is so this
little portion of the vella remains may be declared as a Protected Monument
under the Arcaheological regulations.
Next Ehelapola Weva
Next coming to the tank called Ehelapola Weva which is believed to have
been built by Ehelapola Dissawe, atop a mountain, is another part of
the chronicle of this part of Sabaragamuwa ' reminiscent of Ehelapola
Dissawe being a tank builder himself. The local villagers around there,
said there had been a spring that never went dry, even in the dryest
weather, atop this very mountain overlooking the main highway off Batugedara.....
Across this spring, Ehelapola had built a tank, still aptly known as
Ehelapola Weva. From this tank, old folks said that Ehelapola excavated
a channel taking down its waters from this tank, he had built to feed
the rice fields below around Batugedara area. It is part of this vella ' bund ' we
had spotted off this Ehelapola Mawatha, as described earlier here. Thereafter,
this very channel seems to have fallen into disuse. The irrigation channel
coming down from the Kekunadola anicut runs paralled to some extent to
the old channel built by Ehelapola below the rice fields of the high
way close to Batugedera.
Thahanam Kelle
This Ehelapola Weva built on this top, during the British times, where
two contiguous tanks were built, as reservoirs for the pipe-borne water
supply to the Ratnapura townships, which is still in existence to this
day. The old tank, Ehelapola Weva, built by Ehelapola still remains as
a repostory tank, feeding those two tanks, built later and that the old
tank village folk, still call it as Ehelapola Wewa. While the area where
the two water tanks were built thereon the top of this mountain is called
Thahanam Kelle prohibited forest.
Ehelapola's More Momorabilia
Many are the tales that have been spun about Ehelapola's exploits
and his hidden treasures around Batugedera. As Ehelapola was conspiring
to kill Sri Wickremarajasinha, King of Kandy, it is said that Ehelapola
took a regalia - a sort of imitation crown studded with gems and a sword.
These treasures were said to have been concealed in a paddyfield at a
place still called Mahawela (off Batugedera). Incidentally mention has
to be made that Ehelapola's sword is being displayed at the Sabaragamuwa
National Museum, (Ratnapura), with a writing attached to it, it to be
so.
Gamini G. Punchihewa
The Island, May 08, 2004
Created : December 4, 2008
Updated :
December 4, 2008
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