History stories of lakes
Kalawewa
King Dhatusena was the first to build Kalawewa. It was built on information provided by a man named Kadawara. When he saw a place full of water, he informed the king. The king inquired about the place. It was very suitable for a lake so a tank was built there. The tank was built and the shop was assigned to look after the duties of the tank. Kadawara did that job very well. The king was pleased and even gifted the crop to the market.
Kadawara, who was treated by the king, soon became rich. He became known as Kala Sitanan. The ministers and MPs were jealous of the shop which was praised by the king because of the lake. They plotted to destroy the bund. It destroyed the tank wall. Unable to bear the grief, he jumped into the Kadawara lake and committed suicide. He later became known as Kadavara Devi. Legend has it that the god Kadavara protects every lake.
Minneriya Lake
Minneriya Lake was built by King Mahasen. It is based on a herd of cows in the king's herd. The milk from the cow was very sweet. The king ordered her to find out why her milk was so tasty. The king learned that she was grazing in a swampy area where vines were growing. Pleased, the king decided to build a pond in the swamp and cultivate the fields. However, work on the tank could not be completed. It was broken and destroyed somewhere. The king had astrologers inquire about it. The astrologers said that a prince had to be sacrificed to the lake in order to accomplish this task. But the queen of King Mahasen refused to sacrifice her son. This disturbed the king. Princess Bisomanica, the king's older sister, agreed to sacrifice her son.
After the sacrifice of the prince the work on the tank could be completed. But the king was very saddened by this incident. King Mahasen is still worshiped as the god of Minneriya.
Kekirawa Lake
One day a farmer who lived in the days of King Dutugemunu was walking in a meadow. When he saw that some of the Hena Kurakkan trees had been crushed, he looked for the cause. He was amazed at what he saw. I was also saddened. He saw a large cobra and two moose fighting. The farmer felt sorry for the snake. He struck with a club and chased away the moose and saved the snake. The water was brought and given to the snake. That night the farmer guarded the tent. I saw a light spreading through the darkness of the night. He inquired about it. He saw an amazing sight. There was a gem as big as a coconut. The frightened farmer reported the news to King Dutugemunu. The king came to Hena to see the Kekiri gem. When the king saw the gem, he was overjoyed.
The king built a tank where the gems were. It was named Kekirawa Wewa. After the battle with Elara, the Swarnamali Dagoba was built and the Kekiri gem was treasured there. Legend has it that this is how the Kekirawa Lake got its name.
Halmilla Lake
A group of talented drummers lived near Kala Wewa. They were famous for their drumming. They were often invited to processions. One day an Egam resident went out to play the drums. On the way he met the king. He allowed the procession and humbly left the road. A soldier in the king's procession kicks the drum while riding a horse. The drummer got angry. He uttered an awkward word. Those who listen to that drum dance will automatically dance. When the king heard this, he ran to meet him.
I wondered how to play the drums so beautifully. Enjoying the drumming, the king secretly went to the village. At that time the drummers were practicing drumming in the Halmilla jungle under a Gurunnance. Seeing this, the king handed over the Halmilla yaya to the group. They also built a tank for them. They farmed with the water in that lake. The lake built at Halmilla Yaya at that time became known as Halmilla Wewa.
Sorabora Wewa
Another tank built by King Gemunu who saw Sorabora Wewa. King Dutugemunu went to war with Elara. On the way, it was raining northeast. The Mahaweli River began to overflow. Due to this those who could not cross the river lodged around Mahiyanganaya. They saw the Mahiyanganaya Dagoba in ruins. King Dutugemunu repaired the dagoba. Vihara Maha Devi also participated in that occasion.
King Dutugemunu's servants had someone to supply betel. He is a betel nut giant. While serving betel, I saw a stream flowing between two hills. He had a wonderful idea.
Bulatha crossed the river and started building a tank. There was no one to help him. Only his wife was there to help. She was called Yodhi. She is a strong woman. She brought Bulatha the food she needed every day. The path she took was very difficult. Rocks, mountains, etc.
While bringing food to Bulatha every day, she laid stones and began to build a stone stairway along the way. When the work on Bulatha Wewa was completed she completed the construction of the road.
The Bulatha giant was willing to present a gift to the king of Aluth Wewa. The king came with his entourage to see the lake. The king was amazed to see the lake full of blue water. The King praised the Bulatha giant, saying that 'heavy' irrigation was an example to others. Until then the lake did not have a name. Those who heard the King's bus began to call the lake Harabara Wewa. Later it became known as Sorabora Wewa. The Bulatha giant and his wife received gifts and villages. The road built by Yodhi in those days is today eighteen dynasties.
Gonapathirawa Lake
The person who supplied flowers to King Dhatusena was called Kadim Rala. His village is Kadaimgala. Among the flowers he brought were beautiful red lotus flowers. The king wanted to see the flowers in full bloom. The king secretly went to Kadim Rala's village. I saw a pit full of blooming water. At that moment, they drank water from the well and rang the bell. The king was overjoyed at the sight and the sound. The king thought of building a tank at that event. That task was handed over to the Bar Council. He did his job perfectly. As the deer herd was raised near the lake every day, it was customary to call the lake Gonapathirawa Wewa.
Kanadara Wewa
Kanadara Wewa is an irrigation project of King Mahasen. The king crossed the Kanadara Oya and built a tank called Banuwapi. People used to call Banuwapi Wewa as Kana Wewa. Heavy rain fell. A particle standing in this tank got stuck in the sluice of the tank. No one came forward to remove the cell. So the king sent a drum to find someone. Kadara Rala, who had heard the command drum, took over the task and returned to the palace. He was ready to remove the body on the appointed day. He told a friend to dive into the lake and pick it up after removing it. Kanadara dived into the Rala lake. The ear was cut off and removed. But the friend did not take him up. The water gushed out of the sluice. After all, the friend received gifts and villages from the king, saying that he had cut off the grain. The lake that was washed away by the Kanadara Rala later became known as the Kanadara Wewa.
Uru Sita Wewa
King Mahanaga had a beautiful wedding garden. One day a herd of pigs came and destroyed the garden. The enraged king sent his servants to capture the owner of the herd. He was in the jungle. Someone who has never been in contact with people. So the king had to get used to talking to him. It took a long time. During this time the king's anger subsided.
When this man was able to speak, the king asked him for information. He described a place where water had gathered in the jungle. When the king heard this news, he built a tank there and donated the tank to him. He cultivated with the help of water from the lake and soon became rich. Later this man became known as the Pig Emperor. Later the king became angry with him. Action was taken to destroy the lake. As a result, the emperor and the goddess jumped into the lake and committed suicide. From that time onwards the lake was renamed as Uru Sita Wewa.
Ranthisa Lake
King Mahasen is powerful. He was also a king who was respected by the people. This king had two sisters. One is the Bisho gem. The other sister is Tikiri Menika. Princess Tikiri Menika married a Vedda leader named Pattha and settled near Sigiriya. The villagers held her in high esteem. That is because her son Hingurakgoda Bandara sacrificed his life to protect the Minneriya Lake. Princess Biso Manika got together with the people and started building a tank in the Kaudulla area. It was named Rantisa Wewa.
Kaudulla Lake was larger in size than the Minneriya Lake built by his brother King Mahasen. Proud of this, she created a niece called Aiya Minneriya. I made a hook that could hold that knob. She said proudly. The news reached the king. The enraged king took action to demolish the Rantisa tank. For that he enlisted the help of a group of friendly demons. The demons disguised themselves as deer and destroyed Wekanda in the lake. At that moment Princess Bisomanika had a dream. She woke up screaming and ran to the top of the lake. Unable to bear the damage, she jumped into the lake and committed suicide. Upon hearing this news, the king felt sorry for his sister. I regretted what I had done without foresight. Thinking of correcting the mistake, the king cut a 6 mile long canal from the Minneriya tank and connected the Rantisa tank to it. King Mahasen, who believed that his sister was born a goddess, built the Biso Bandara Devalaya for her. Today, Rantisa Wewa is known as Kaudulla Wewa.
Also, I think it is a great honor for all of us Sri Lankans to be born in a country with such a culture of creation.
So you can share this knowledge with other friends. All you have to do is share this article on social networks like Facebook and twitter as much as possible.
--- I am Omesh Chamara ---