Stories Behind Names of Places in Sri Lanka – PALAGALA – By Dr. Nimal Sedera
Source : Queensland Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – April 2023
This article series has been on for a long period. I take great pleasure in doing this article as the feedback is that many read it. These stories are not my original findings. They are the wealth gained by reading the work of other people. Stories in our history becomes his or her story.
This month, I write how a village in the Anuradhapura got its name “PALAGALA”. Palagala is now a Pradesheeya Sabha in Anuradhapura. Almost all the names of villages and places in and around Anuradhapura are linked to some King that ruled from the Anuradhapura Kingdom.
This naming is linked to the famous King Dhathusena who built the mighty Kalaweva reservoir. He
considered Kalaweva as his wealth.
When the tank was under construction, the King took pleasure in visiting the place so often and spent time with the hardworking people. He saw to it that all necessary facilities were extended to the people that sweated in building the tank.
One day, when the King visited the site it was the lunch time. Many were seated on a vast flat rock. He walked among the people and looked at the food they were having and noticed lots of green leaves
(mellum) served with rice. He was happy that the food served was nourishing. Looking around the place, the King saw several edible plants naturally grown around the rock.
The King commented “meka palagalakne” happily. From that day people identified the rock as “Palagala” and the village was called “Palagala”. Today the Provincial Council is also identified as “Palagala”.
Dr. Nimal Sedera
Dr. Nimal Sedera is a journalist, poet, motivational speaker
and an author of over 70 books.
