Rajanganaya Wewa (Sinhala: රාජාංගනය ජලාශය) is a reservoir built across the Kala Oya river, at Rajanganaya, bordering the North Western and North Central provinces of Sri Lanka.
History
This is a newly built reservoir. However, on the Kadigala hill where the dam of Rajanganaya reservoir abuts into the rock are the ruins of ancient Maha Mangala Viharaya built on the bank of Gona Nadi (the ancient name used to identify the present Kala Oya river) by King Vankanasika Tissa [(111-114 A.D.) Arumugam, 1969; Nicholas, 1963]. Rock-cut flight of steps, Stupa Mounds and an inscription of Vankanasika Tissa are found at this site (Arumugam, 1969).
Kadigala rock inscription of Vankanasika Tissa
The rock inscription found on the Kadigala hill is the only inscription of King Vankanasika Tissa found so far in the country. The purpose of engraving this inscription was to record that a share of the merit, presumably gained by the performance of a good deed, was transferred by the king to his mother named Jitadevi (Paranavitana,
1983).Rajangane Wewa Pillar Inscription of Dappula IV
A pillar inscription of King Dappula IV (924-935 A.D.) has been discovered from the site of this reservoir (Ranawella, 2005). It records certain immunities granted in respect of a village named Harepugama attached as a heritable property to Mahara Rapuha, (son ?) of the Mahaya (Ranawella, 2005).
The reservoir
The reservoir has been constructed by damming the Kala Oya river (Arumugam, 1969). The bund of the reservoir is about 1.62 km. long and the water is extending in an area of about 4,000 acres at its full supply level (Arumugam, 1969). It has one spill and two sluices (Arumugam, 1969).
Attribution
References
1) Arumugam, S., 1969. Water resources of Ceylon: its utilisation and development. Water Resources Board. p.349.
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.92.
3) Paranavitana, S., 1983. Inscriptions of Ceylon, Late Brahmi Inscriptions, Volume II (Part I). Archaeological Survey of Sri Lanka. pp.81-85.
4) Ranawella, S., 2005. Inscription of Ceylon. Volume V, Part III. Department of Archaeology. ISBN: 955-91-59-57-7. pp.25-26.
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.92.
3) Paranavitana, S., 1983. Inscriptions of Ceylon, Late Brahmi Inscriptions, Volume II (Part I). Archaeological Survey of Sri Lanka. pp.81-85.
4) Ranawella, S., 2005. Inscription of Ceylon. Volume V, Part III. Department of Archaeology. ISBN: 955-91-59-57-7. pp.25-26.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 4 June 2022
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