Kotmale in development in Sri Lanka

The Kotmale oya River, originating in the central highlands of Sri Lanka at an elevation of 2,134 m (7,000 ft), running between the two hills of Tispane and Kadadora, resulted in the valley having fertile soil, the ideal land for cultivation. Also during the glorious days of the ancient kings of Lanka, the valley had been of immense vitality: the cultivation of rice took root in groups of villages amid the pottery and carpentry industries. It was home to goldsmiths and blacksmiths. The Pidurutalagala Oya stream, the Nanu oya river, the Greogory tank rushes into its waters into the Kotmale Oya river. So are Devon Falls, St Clair Falls, Puna Falls, and Cat Snake Garadi Falls. From the glorious days of ancient Sri Lanka to the years of the modern fast-paced Mahaweli multipurpose irrigation project, a huge volume of water rushed in and caused floods that engulfed groups of villages and hamlets in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. The high water mark of the floods is seen even today at the Gampola train station near Kandy, the gateway to the central highlands of Sri Lanka.

Although the need for a dam was noted in 1950, a couple of years after independence from British colonial rulers, it was not until 1961 that the Sri Lankan Government carried out preliminary studies of the Kotmale project in association with the Agency for the United States. for International Development (USAID) and then again by UNDP-FAO from 1964 to 1968. During the period from 1973 to 1976, the Water and Power Development Consultancy Services (India) Limited (WAPCOS) carried out a feasibility study . In 1979 Sir William Halcrow and Partners, in association with Messrs. Kennedy & Donkin and the Central Engineering Consulting Bureau (CECB) of Sri Lanka, were appointed to provide consulting services: construction work began in February 1979 ; the reservoir was seized in November 1984; commercial power generation began in June 1985; ceremonially commissioned in August 1985.

Kotmale Dam, Reservoir and Power Station

The dam with a crest length of 520 m and a height of 122 m created the Kotmale Reservoir, which at its maximum capacity regulates 174 million cubic meters of waters from the Kotamale Oya River. The water thus seized is first used for the generation of hydroelectric power. The contribution to the Sri Lankan national electricity grid by hydroelectric power in Kotmale amounts to no less than 206 megawatts. The water is then discharged to join the confluence of the Mahaweli Ganga River and the Atabaghe Oya River.

But all good things come at a price. Sri Lanka paid a high price for the Kotmale dam, reservoir, tunnel and underground hydroelectric power station. The Kotmale project is one of the five major works projects of the Mahaweli River Diversification megaproject, the largest irrigation system (modern or ancient) ever implemented on the island.
57 villages were lost. 54 ancient and medieval Buddhist temples were sunk along with 57 villages on both banks of the Kotmale Oya River, hugging Tispane Hill and Kadadola Hill. It was thousands of times worse than the floods. I was ironic. Everything in the valley was lost for the rest of the time, even the floods. There will be no more floods, but there will be no more villages. It was analogous to throwing the baby out with the bath water. But then Sri Lanka wanted the accelerated Mahaweli multipurpose irrigation project. How do you make an omelette without breaking the egg?

Kotmale’s fate was predicted

Today, the Kotmale Dam and Kotmale Reservoir are not simply monuments of modern engineering nor are they simply modern buildings on an ancient island rooted in agriculture: they are also testimony to the inevitable course of fate. During medieval times, a Nostrdamusque mathematician astrologer named Kotmale Ganitaya (the mathematician of Kotmale) had predicted that one day in the future Kadadora Hill and Thispane Hill would meet. The Kotmale Dam and the Kotmale Reservoir made the two hills no longer separated from each other: today they are linked with the concrete of the dam and the waters of the reservoir.

Modern stupa Mahaweli Maha Seya

In an attempt to make up for the 54 flooded temples, in the ancient Sri Lankan tradition, the Stupa Land of the Buddhist World, the Institute built an imposing stupa that rises to a height of 274 feet with a diameter of 200 feet (61 meters ). been on the right bank over the Kotmale Dam at an elevation of 950 m (4150 ft) above sea level.

Kotmale in Sri Lankan history

Kotmale of Sri Lanka Holidays has been a much adored people among the Sinhalese: the name of the legendary people of the central highlands of Sri Lanka elicits smiling faces and loving hearts. History has given Kotamale an incomparable meaning: it was the village where Prince Dutugamunu, who hailed from the ancient southern kingdom, Ruhuna, found refuge. The prince had sent a pair of bracelets to his father, who did not give him permission to wage war against the invading Tamil Elara in Anuradapura. If you are a man, you have to fight your battles to the death; Since you are not ready for battle, you can also wear these bracelets, the beloved adornments of the ladies.

The prince lived in disguise known by an appropriate name: Gupta. It meant mystery in Sinhalese in ancient times as it is today. The mystery was revealed by Kandula, the royal elephant who was combing the land in search of the crown prince after the king’s death. The harnessed royal elephant escorted by the royal bodyguards carrying the Sri Lankan banner knelt in front of Gupta’s agriculture in the rice field, plunging the farmers into mortal fear: the farm pawn they loved but scoffed at. they was the crown prince. By fate, the one who treated the farmer with selfless kindness turned out to be Ran Ethana, the prettiest maiden in town, the youngest daughter of the man of the house who sheltered him. The prince extended his hand. God’s hand made her the queen of the island.

The lion-hearted prince of Ruhuna went to battle with a great army of warriors and elephants led by ten samsonesque commanders named Nandimithra, Suranimala, Velusumana, Gotabhaya, Pussadeva, Mahasona, Theraputtabhaya, Kanchadeva, Lahhiyawasaba, and Bharana. Bastion after bastion from Ruhuna to Anuradhapura, he defeated the formidable army of the invading Dravidian and rescued the Sinhalese nation and Buddhism.

King Dutugamunu (161-137 BC) is historically and traditionally honored with the supreme title of “The Hero of Sri Lanka”. On May 19, 2009, with the complete elimination of terrorism that ravaged Sri Lanka’s northern and eastern provinces for 30 years, popular President-elect Don Percy Mahendra Rajapakse, also from Ruhuna, bowed as “The Hero of modern Sri Lanka “. Today, Sri Lanka’s development is at full speed; the tourism business with Sri Lanka Holidays is in full swing.