Elahera Amuna is an ancient anicut built across the Amban Ganga River. Mahavamsa states that it was in existence in the time of Valagamba (89-77 B.C.)
Elahera Amuna E lahera Amuna or Elahera Canal (Sinhala: පුරාණ ඇලහැර අමුණ) is an ancient anicut built across the Amban Ganga River in Polonnaruwa District, Sri Lanka.It diverts the flow of Amban Ganga River for direct irrigation development and to augment supply to Minneriya and Giritale tanks (Arumugam, 1969). History Elahera Amuna was known in ancient times as Alisara Canal and it has several references in history (Arumugam, 1969; Nicholas, 1963). The chronicle Mahavamsa states that the Alisara canal was in existence during the reign of King Valagamba (103, 89-77 B.C.) of Anuradhapura and that shares in it were assigned to Mucela Viharaya of Tiswadaman which was near the present Kaudulla Wewa (Mendis, 2007; Nicholas, 1963; Withanachchi, 2015). King Mahasen (276-303 A.D.) of Anuradhapura built Minneriya Wewa and Giritale Wewa reservoirs at the tail end of the Elahera canal and therefore, it is assumed that the Alisara Canal existed before the Minneriya Wewa and Kaudulla Wewa were built (Mendis, 2007;…
