eLanka

Wednesday, 29 Oct 2025
  • Home
  • Read History
  • Articles
    • eLanka Journalists
  • Events
  • Useful links
    • Obituaries
    • Seeking to Contact
    • eLanka Newsletters
    • Weekly Events and Advertisements
    • eLanka Testimonials
    • Sri Lanka Newspapers
    • Sri Lanka TV LIVE
    • Sri Lanka Radio
    • eLanka Recepies
  • Gallery
  • Contact
Newsletter
  • eLanka Weddings
  • Property
  • eLanka Shop
  • Business Directory
eLankaeLanka
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • Read History
  • Articles
    • eLanka Journalists
  • Events
  • Useful links
    • Obituaries
    • Seeking to Contact
    • eLanka Newsletters
    • Weekly Events and Advertisements
    • eLanka Testimonials
    • Sri Lanka Newspapers
    • Sri Lanka TV LIVE
    • Sri Lanka Radio
    • eLanka Recepies
  • Gallery
  • Contact
Follow US
© 2005 – 2025 eLanka Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Home » Blog » Articles » Reminiscing memories of putting the Kandy Lake in order-by L.B Senarathne
Articles

Reminiscing memories of putting the Kandy Lake in order-by L.B Senarathne

eLanka admin
Last updated: October 24, 2024 5:23 pm
By
eLanka admin
ByeLanka admin
Follow:
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

Reminiscing memories of putting the Kandy Lake in order-by L.B Senarathne

elanka

Source:Dailymirror

elanka

The Kandy Lake was created with the tears and sweat of the Kandyan Peasants and it amounted to forced labour. Nearly 2000-3000 workers were employed for this task, according to John D’Oyly’s book (page 123). Men and women worked at the site. King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe ordered nearly 60 members of the Maha Sangha who protested against this to be bound and burnt. But Adikaram Meegastenne intervened and they were freed.
The artificer Devendra Mulachari, the creator of the lake, committed suicide in the very lake he created for the King.
The original idea to build the lake came to the King while walking with Devendra on Maha Maluwa. The idea was to build a lake near the Bogambara Wewa; and in front of the Palace (Maligawa). Devendra Mulachari said that it could be done by making a dam near Tiggowela, which was the property of Malwattu Maha Vihare. The King ordered that it should be done and forced labour was employed. The protests came from the Maha Sagha, but the King cared less and had them arrested.

More Read

Going Back to Sri Lanka? Ship your Household Goods in a Shipping Container ! From anywhere in the United States We have the lowest prices in town!
Going Back to Sri Lanka? Ship your Household Goods in a Shipping Container ! From anywhere in the United States We have the lowest prices in town!Going Back to Sri Lanka? Ship your Household Goods in a Shipping Container ! From anywhere in the United States We have the lowest prices in town!
WCIC’s 40th Anniversary Celebrations Continue with Empowering Future Female Entrepreneurs Workshop
Sri Lankan parliamentary delegation visits UK to strengthen bilateral ties

The maintenance of the Lake was not an easy task and they handed it over to the main Local Authority, the Kandy Municipal Council. This institute handed the conservation of the Lake.
The Kandy Municipal Council showed a step motherly attitude towards this task and reasons are unknown. There were soon dead fish on the lake and there was also a stench. Complaints poured in. however the new authorities took no notice of these happenings. 

The the Ministry of Irrigation was handed over to General Anuruddha Ratwatte (then he was not a General).At a meeting held at the Mahaweli Office on Sangharaja Mawatha, Ratwatte in his own style blamed the Municipality for not maintaining the Lake and attending to the stench and rotting algae. He fiercely said that he would fill the Northern end of the Lake. True to his words within two weeks, he took over the Lake and handed it over to the Irrigation Department.
The Directress of the Central Province overseeing the operations of the Irrigation Department took immediate action to clear the algae and make the Lake pleasanter for people who walked around the Lake.
Minister Ratwatte left the Ministry and Anura Kumara Dissanayake (the present President) took over the Ministry. The Directress maintained that there were no funds to maintain the lake.  By this time the bund of the Lake showed signs of cracks.
Minister Dissanayake, knowing the situation, maintained that there was a need to maintain the lake for the benefit of visitors to the area. Money was allocated for the task and he Kandy allocated and himself cut the first sod of soil for the rehabilitation work.
The department from there onwards was allocated funds and today the Lake in this present condition thanks to the work of the Irrigation Department. This work commenced with the allocation made by the then minster Dissanayake, who is now the Executive President.

Even Dr. Sarath Amunugama was at one time the Minister of Irrigation and was also the AGA of Kandy. The initial allocation made by Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake went a long way in maintaining the Lake. This is how attention was given to the once neglected Lake.
These stills reproduced here with the article are facilitated thanks to the stint this writer put at the SLRC as the Central province Correspondent. These stills show the traditional rites being performed before the refurbishment work of the Lake began in the presence of a gathering comprising distinguished invitees. The first sod of soil was cut by the then Minister of Irrigation Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the presence of several other invitees. 

TAGGED:Anura Kumara DissanayakeDr. Sarath AmunugamaGeneral Anuruddha RatwatteIrrigation DepartmentKandy Lake
Share This Article
Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Beechcraft Australia’s new gift for Sri Lanka : Beechcraft King Air 350
Next Article Vision Care Expands Branch Network with New Wennappuwa City branch 01 Vision Care Expands Branch Network with New Wennappuwa City branch
FacebookLike
YoutubeSubscribe
LinkedInFollow
Most Read
10 Pictures With Fascinating Stories Behind Them!

“A PICTURE SPEAKS A 1000 WORDS” – By Des Kelly

Look past your thoughts so you may drink the pure nectar of this moment

A Life Hack for when we’re Burnt Out & Broken Down – By Uma Panch

Narration of the History of our Proud Ancestral (Orang Jawa) Heritage. by Noor R. Rahim

eLanka Weddings

eLanka Marriage Proposals

Noel News

Noel News

Noel News

Noel News- By Noel Whittaker

EILEEN MARY SIBELLE DE SILVA (nee DISSANAYAKE) – 29 September 1922 – 6 April 2018 – A Woman of Value an Appreciation written by Mohini Gunasekera

K.K.S. Cement Factory

Dr.Harold Gunatillake’s 90th Birthday party

Sri Lanka's women's cricket squad in Melbourne

Cricket: Sri Lanka’s women’s squad in Melbourne

- Advertisement -
Ad image
Related News
Sri Lanka Crowned Home of South Asia’s Fastest Man and Woman After Record-Breaking Wins in Ranchi
Articles

Sri Lanka Crowned Home of South Asia’s Fastest Man and Woman After Record-Breaking Wins in Ranchi

Fabulous Suzi Flückiger and No Limit were on fire at the St John's College Nugegoda Country and Western night. - By TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.
Articles Trevine Rodrigo

Fabulous Suzi Flückiger and No Limit were on fire at the St John’s College Nugegoda Country and Western night. – By TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.

Thomians Shine in Dubai: S. Thomas’ College Karting Team Meets Ambassador Arusha Cooray After Podium Finish at Sodi World Series
Articles

Thomians Shine in Dubai: S. Thomas’ College Karting Team Meets Ambassador Arusha Cooray After Podium Finish at Sodi World Series

Elanka newsletter
Articles eLanka Newsletters

eLanka Newsletter -26th October 2025 – 4th Edition – Sri Lankans In Australia

PRESIDENT TRUMP CREATING NEW ISSUES , WHILE TRYING TO SOLVE OLD ISSUES - By N.S.Venkataraman
Articles N.S.Venkataraman

PRESIDENT TRUMP CREATING NEW ISSUES , WHILE TRYING TO SOLVE OLD ISSUES – By N.S.Venkataraman

  • Quick Links:
  • Articles
  • DESMOND KELLY
  • Dr Harold Gunatillake
  • English Videos
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sinhala Videos
  • eLanka Newsletters
  • Obituaries
  • Tamil Videos
  • Dr. Harold Gunatillake
  • Sunil Thenabadu
  • Sinhala Movies
  • Trevine Rodrigo
  • Tamil Movies
  • Michael Roberts

eLanka

Your Trusted Source for News & Community Stories: Stay connected with reliable updates, inspiring features, and breaking news. From politics and technology to culture, lifestyle, and events, eLanka brings you stories that matter — keeping you informed, engaged, and connected 24/7.
Kerrie road, Oatlands , NSW 2117 , Australia.
Email : info@eLanka.com.au / rasangivjes@gmail.com.
WhatsApp : +61402905275 / +94775882546

(c) 2005 – 2025 eLanka Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.