Kotmale of Sri Lanka Holidays

Kotmale in the Development in Sri Lankawith the bath water. But then Sri Lanka wanted the
Kotmale oya river with its origin in the Central Highlandsaccelerated Mahaweli multi-purpose irrigation project.
of Sri Lanka at an elevation of 2134 m (7000 ft.)How do you make an omelet without breaking the
running between the two hills of Tispane andegg?
Kadadora resulted in the valley having a fertile soil, theThe destiny of Kotmale was foretold
ideal good earth for cultivation. During the glorious daysToday Kotmale dam and Kotmale reservoir aren't
of ancient kings of Lanka too, the valley had been ofmerely monuments of modern engineering nor are
immense vibrancy: paddy cultivation took root inthey merely modern edifices of an ancient island
clusters of villages amidst the industries of pottery androoted in agriculture: they are testimony to the
carpentry. It was home to goldsmiths as well asinevitable course of destiny too. During the medieval
blacksmiths. Pidurutalagala Oya stream, Nanu oya river,times a Nostrdamusque astrologer mathematician by
Greogory's tank rush in their waters to the Kotmalethe name Kotmale Ganitaya (the mathematician of
Oya river. So are Devon falls, St Clair's falls, Puna fallsKotmale) had predicted that one day in the future
and Cat Snake Garadi falls. Since the glorious days ofKadadora hill and Thispane hill would meet. Kotmale
ancient Sri Lanka to the years of modern accelerateddam and the Kotmale reservoir made it that the two
Mahaweli multi-purpose irrigation project, an enormoushills aren't apart from each other any longer: today
volume of water rushed in resulting in floods sinkingthey are conjoined with the concrete of the dam and
clusters of hamlets and villages of the Centralwaters of the reservoir.
Highlands of Sri Lanka. The high watermark of floodsMahaweli Maha Seya Modern Stupa
are noted even today in the railway station ofIn an attempt to compensate the 54 temples
Gampola close to Kandy, the gateway to Centralinundated, in the ancient tradition of Sri Lanka, the
Highlands of Sri Lanka.Stupa Land of the Buddhist World, a towering stupa
Although the necessity of a dam was observed inrising to a height of 274 ft with a diameter of 200 ft
1950, a couple of years following the independence(61 meters) was built by the state at the right bank
from the colonial British rulers, it was only in 1961 theabove the Kotmale dam at an elevation of 950 m
preliminary studies of the Kotmale project were(4150 ft.) above sea level.
carried out by the Government of Sri Lanka inKotmale in History of Sri Lanka
partnership with US Agency for InternationalKotmale of Sri Lanka Holidays has been a much
Development (USAID) and then again by UNDP-FAOadored village among the Sinhalese: the name of the
from 1964 to 1968. During the period between 1973legendary village of the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka
and 1976, a feasibility study was carried out by theitself brings about smiling faces and a loving hearts.
water and Power Development Consultancy ServicesThe history has set Kotamale an unparalleled
(India) Limited (WAPCOS). In 1979, Sir William Halcrowsignificance: it was the village where Prince
and Partners in association with Messrs KennedyDutugamunu who hailed from the ancient Southern
& Donkin and the Central Engineering Consultancykingdom Ruhuna found sanctuary. The prince had sent
Bureau (CECB)of Sri Lanka were appointed to providea couple of bangles to his father, who wouldn't grant
consultancy services: construction work commencedpermission to wage war against the Tamil Invader
in February 1979; reservoir was impounded inElara at Anuradapura. If you are a man, you have to
November 1984; commercial power generationfight your battles to the death; since you aren't ready
commenced in June 1985; ceremonially commissionedfor the battle, you may as well wear these bangles,
in August 1985.the beloved ornaments of ladies.
Kotmale Dam, reservoir and power stationThe prince lived in disguise known by a befitting name:
The dam with a Crest Length of 520 m and Height ofGupta. It meant mystery in Sinhalese in the ancient
122 m created Kotmale reservoir, which at its fulltimes as it does today. The mystery was revealed by
capacity regulates 174 million cubic meters of watersKandula, the Royal elephant who was combing the
of the Kotamale Oya River. The water thusland in search of crown prince following the death of
impounded is utilized first for the hydro electric powerthe king. The caparisoned royal elephant escorted by
generation. The contribution to the national power gridthe royal body guards carrying the standard Sri Lanka
of Sri Lanka by hydro electricity at Kotmale amountsknelt in front of Gupta farming in the paddy field, sinking
to no less than 206 megawatts. Then the water isthe farmers in mortal fear: the farm hand they loved
discharged to join the confluence of Mahaweli gangayet taunted was the crown prince. By destiny, the one
river and the Atabaghe Oya river.who treated the farm boy with selfless kindness
But then all the good things come at a price. Sri Lankahappened to be Ran Ethana, the prettiest damsel of
paid a heavy price for Kotmale dam, reservoir, tunnelthe village, the younger daughter of the man of the
and underground hydro electricity power station.house which gave him shelter. The prince extended his
Kotmale project is one of the five head workshand. The hand of god made her the queen of the
projects of the mega project of Mahaweli Riverisland.
Diversification, the largest (modern or ancient) irrigationThe lion-hearted prince from Ruhuna went to battle
scheme ever in the island.with a great army of warriors and elephants lead by
57 villages were lost. 54 ancient and medieval Buddhistten samsonesque commanders named Nandimithra,
temples were sunk together with 57 villages on bothSuranimala, Velusumana, Gotabhaya, Pussadeva,
banks of Kotmale Oya river hugging Tispane hill andMahasona, Theraputtabhaya,Kanchadeva,
Kadadola hill. It was thousands of times worse thanLahhiyawasaba and Bharana laid seige, battled and ran
floods. I was ironic. Everything in the valley was lost forover Dravidian bastion by bastion all the way from
the rest of the time, even the floods. There won't beRuhuna to Anuradhapura, defeated the formidable
floods any more, but then there aren't any morearmy of the Dravidian invader and rescued the
villages either. It was analogous to throwing the babySinhalese nation and Buddhism.