Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 1

Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 59
Sixteen reservoirs built by King Mahasen are; (Manihira, Mahagama, Challura, Khanu, Mahamani,
Kokavata, Dhammarama, Kumbalaka, Vahana, Ratmalakandaka, Tissavadamanaka, Velangavitthi,
Mahagallaka, Cira, Mahadaragallaka, Kalapasana).
As per Mahavamsa, he gathered much merit and much sin.
Author’s Note: Ratmalakandaka is identified to be Padawiya reservoir, Tissavadamanaka as
Kaudulla reservoir, Mahadaragallaka as Nachchaduwa reservoir.
Author’s Note: King Mahasen’s time period was a golden era in Lanka but not for Buddhism.
King Mahasen was the first to destroy Mahavihara yet after his death, people made him a god. Even
today, almost two thousand years later people in Sri Lanka call him Mahasen Deviyo or Minneri
Deviyo).
Elahara Canal:
King Vasabha initiated the Elahara canal scheme and King Mahasen built it to the present status. The
canal, which was neglected for centuries, was restored by the restoration program started by British
Governor Henry Ward. Elahara canal starts from Amban river near Elahara and carries water to large
reservoirs in north, Minneriya, Girithale and Kantalai reservoirs. Total length of the canal is 54 miles
and the width varies from 70 ft to 200 ft. (Compare this with a 300 ft length of a soccer field).
The Greatest Canal in the Ancient World: (Ref: Sir Emerson Tennent)
“Excepting the exaggerated dimensions of the lake Moeris in Egypt and the mysterious basin
of Al Aram, no similar construction was formed by any race whether ancient or modern,
exceed in colossal magnitude of the stupendous tanks of Ceylon. The reservoir of Kohrud of
Isphan, the artificial lake of ajmeer, or the tank of Hyder in Mysore can no more be
compared in extent or grandeur with Kala Wewa or Padawiya. The conduits of Hazekiah, the
Kanat of the Persian or the subterranean water courses of Peru can vie with the Elahara
canal, which probably connected the lake of Minneri with Sea of Parakrama (Parakrama
Samudra) with the Amban river”
(Sir Emmerson Tennent, Ref: R.L Brohier, Ancient Irrigation Works of Ceylon – Edited for brevity).
Path of the Elahara Canal:
Milepost 0.0 - Amban river was dammed and water was diverted to the Elahara canal.
Milepost 4.0 - Canal crosses the Kongeta Oya (river)
Milepost 5.0 - Canal crosses the Kirandagalle Ela (river)
Milepost 6.2 - Canal is provided with an overflow weir (Galwana – 50 ft wide with wing walls).
Galwana would let flood water escape without damaging the canal bund.
Milepost 6.5 - Canal crosses the Heerati Oya (70 ft wide breach in the canal bund) Milepost 7.5 -
Second overflow weir
Milepost 9.0 - Sluice to feed tributary canals
Milepost 10.0 - Canal crosses the Kottapitiya Oya (50 ft wide breach in the canal bund)
Milepost 12.0 - Second sluice to obtain water