Stories Behind Names of Places in Sri Lanka 'ANAMADUWA ' - By Dr. Nimal Sedera

Stories Behind Names of Places in Sri Lanka ‘ANAMADUWA ‘ – By Dr. Nimal Sedera

Source : Qld Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – August 2023

Anamaduwa is in the District of Puttlam in Sri Lanka. It is now famous as a place of tourist interest too. But let’s focus on as to how the name Anamaduwa came into being.

At the time this area was nothing but a jungle and it became a popular place for hunting. People believe that there are jungles in Sri Lanka where hunters get lost and struggle for days to get out of the forest. Such stories are common even today.

The reason for getting lost is attributed to a certain creeper found in the forest. The belief is that, if the hunters or anyone entering the jungle trample these creepers, they become confused and loose their way. Therefore, these creepers are named “මුලා වැල්” (Mula Vel). The meaning of it is “the creepers that confuse”.

The story is that when a group of hunters entered this forest they got lost in it trampling the “Mula Vel” and struggled to find the way out. Then a heavy rain began and continued for days. The only way they could protect themselves was by erecting a hut on a tree top as the jungle began to flood.

Once they got to the hut on the tree, they saw the direction they mut move to get out of the forest. So, after the rain they were successful in finding the way out. Thereafter this hut served as a sign of direction to the people that went to the jungle for hunting. They began to point to the shed and in Sinhala language they said “Anna Maduwa Penenava” meaning “There you see the hut”. Over time, “Anna Maduwa” became “Anamaduwa” PS: There are other versions to the name “Anamaduwa’. One such is that it was the “Ali Maduwa”(elephant shed) of the time of King Dutugamunu evolved to be ආණමඩුව .

It will be discussed in the next issue.