Mamaduwa Wewa (Sinhala: මාමඩුව වැව) is a reservoir situated in Mamaduwa village in Vavuniya District, Sri Lanka.
History
Mamaduwa Wewa is identified as the ancient Mahida Wewa (Mahinda-vapi), as it is mentioned in the slab inscription of King Sena II (853-887 A.D.) that was discovered on the bund of this tank (Nicholas, 1963; Ranawella, 2001). The inscription has been set up to prohibit fishing (poaching or stealing) in Mahida Wewa (Ranawella, 2001).
The tank is believed to have been repaired during the reign of King Kassapa V [(914-923 A.D.) Arumugam, 1969]. The Mahindatalaka Wewa restored by King Parakramabahu I (1153-1186 A.D.) during his reign is identical to this tank (Nicholas, 1963).
The present tank was restored in the 1888-1896 period (Arumugam, 1969).
The Reservoir
Mamaduwa Wewa is one of the tanks in the Parangi Ary River Basin. By the late 1960s, the tank's bund was 6,480 feet long and its storage capacity was 3,030 acre⋅feet while its water spread area was 600 acres (Arumugam, 1969). There was a 100 ft spill on the left bank and another on the right bank - 375 feet (Arumugam, 1969). The three sluices on the left bank had a diameter of 9 and 12 in (Arumugam, 1969). The catchment area is 26 square miles.
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References
Books, Government Gazette Notifications, Journal Articles
1) Arumugam, S., 1969. Water resources of Ceylon: its utilisation and development. Water Resources Board. p.304.
2) Nicholas, C. W., 1963. Historical topography of ancient and medieval Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series (Vol VI). Special Number: Colombo. Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch). p.87.
3) Ranawella, S., 2001. Inscription of Ceylon. Volume V, Part I. Department of Archaeology. ISBN: 955-9159-21-6. pp.38-39.