Abhaya Wewa is an old tank located in Anuradhapura. Built by King Pandukabhaya, it is considered the most ancient irrigation work in the country.
Abhaya Wewa (Basawakkulama) A bhaya Wewa or Abhayavapi , also known as Basawakkulama Wewa (Sinhala: අභය වැව, බසවක්කුලම වැව, අභයවාපි), is an old tank located in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka. History
According to historical sources such as Mahawamsa (Chap:10, v.88), King Pandukabhaya (437-367 B.C.), the grandson of Panduwasa Deva (504-474 B.C.), constructed the Abhayavapi tank (named after himself) at Anuradhapura in the 4th century B.C. (Arumugam, 1969; Fernando, 1980; Nicholas, 1963; Ray, 1959; Seneviratna, 1991). Therefore, it is assumed that this is the most ancient irrigation work in the country (Arumugam, 1969). Chronicles record that the core of Thuparama Stupa was made with lumps of clay taken from the bed of the Abhaya Wewa (Nicholas, 1963; Ray, 1959). The tank was restored in 1874 (Arumugam, 1969). Inscriptions Basavakkulama pillar inscription of King Sena II (853-887 A.D.)
A pillar inscription belonging to the 9th century A.D. was discovered on the bund of the present tank (Ranawella, 2005). It is now kep…
