Angamedilla Anicut

Angammedilla Anicut (Photo credit: Charitha Dasun, Google street view)

Angamedilla Gal Amuna (Sinhala: අංගමැඩිල්ල ගල් අමුණ) is an ancient anicut (presently a dam) that lies on the edge of the Angamedilla National Park in Polonnaruwa District, Sri Lanka.

The anicut and its conveyance channel were constructed by King Parakramabahu I (1153-1186 A.D.) to bring the waters of the Amban Ganga river (ancient Kara Ganga) to Parakrama Samudraya, a great reservoir built by Parakramabahu by connecting three original reservoirs, viz: Topa Wewa, Eramudu Wewa, and Dumbutulu Wewa (Arumugam, 1969; Nicholas, 1963). The channel was originally known as Akasa Ganga but is presently called the Angamedilla Yodha Ela (Arumugam, 1969; Nicholas, 1963). 

A new dam was constructed later on the same spot on which the ancient anicut stood (Wikramagamage, 2004). As a result of that, the original anicut is no more visible, but a part of the protective wall along the right bank built with massive blocks of stone still can be identified. The present dam is 90 ft. long and 45 ft. high and was restored during the period between 1948-1952 (Arumugam, 1969; Wikramagamage, 2004).

The entire length of the Angamedilla Yodha Ela is 3 miles and 42 chains (Arumugam, 1969; Wikramagamage, 2004). The bed width of the channel is 40-50 ft. and has a depth of 6 ft. (Arumugam, 1969; Wikramagamage, 2004).

#) Thekkama Amuna