Village youth and monk bring back Aranwela’s lost historical site-By Sasanka Nanayakkara Source:Sundaytimes Kirama Oya meanders through the fields on its way to reach the Indian Ocean, its origins said to be in the rain-rich lush mountains of Kirama. During its not so long journey to unleash its precious collection into the sea at Tangalle, the flow is stemmed at several locations to irrigate the dry plains of the west of Hambantota district. These anicuts had been built during colonial times but many were there during the Kandyan Kingdom as well. A historical temple had once existed overlooking one of these anicuts. Between coastal Tangalle and the inland town of Beliatta, Kirama Oya separates two sleepy villages of Aranwela and Angulmaduwa. Whilst Aranwela is famous for its vast stretch of paddy fields  called the ‘Aranwela wel yaya’ – virtually filling most of the landmass between Tangalle and Beliatta – Angulmaduwa ...

Read More →