Kondawattuwana Tank and Monastic Ruins

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Kondawattuwana Monastic Ruins directions board which is apparent is wrong

Some stone pillars at Kondawattuwana Monastic Ruins

An ancient building at Kondawattuwana Monastic Ruins

Located along the Ampara–Inginiyagala road, the Kondawattuwana Reservoir and the scattered ruins around it stand as reminders of the once-flourishing Digamadulla Kingdom.

The reservoir, first constructed between the 1st and 3rd centuries BCE, has been recently renovated to supply both irrigation and drinking water to nearby villages. According to Prof. Paranavitana, two rock inscriptions were discovered on a rock near the reservoir, probably dating to the 2nd century CE. One of these inscriptions refers to a temple named Ahali-araba, established under the patronage of King Vasabha (65–110 CE), while the other appears to mention a minister who served under this king (Paranavitana, 1955).

Close to the reservoir, a pillar inscription dating to the reign of King Dappula IV in the 10th century AD was discovered. This inscription records that irrigation water was subject to taxation, along with paddy cultivation, and that unauthorized tapping of water was strictly forbidden. It provides clear evidence of a government-regulated irrigation system functioning in the Eastern Province over a thousand years ago.

As was customary in ancient Sri Lanka, where monasteries were often situated near reservoirs, the remains of a monastery can also be found close to Kondawattuwana. Among these ruins are rare and early replicas of the Buddha’s Feet, crafted in both circular and square forms—artifacts seldom seen in the eastern regions of the island.

Kondawattuwana Pillar Inscription

The pillar inscription found at a land near Kondawattuwana Wewa reservoir is unusual in content, as it records regulations concerning the administration of a village named Aragama, located in Hither Digamadulla.

This inscription provides valuable insights into the administrative, social, and economic aspects of life in the 10th century. It contains an edict regulating relations between leaseholders (patta) and tenants (kudi).

The village of Aragama, which belonged to the domain of a general (dandanayaka) named Rakkha of Sagva, was, as was customary at the time, leased to patta-holders. These leaseholders, in turn, developed the lands through tenants. The edict strictly prohibited leaseholders from evicting tenants and replacing them with cultivators of their own choice, thereby safeguarding the rights of the villagers.(Paranavitana, 1954)

At the same time, tenants were bound by obligations. Those who defaulted—for example, by plowing late—were subject to fines. In this case, the fine was fixed at five kalandas of gold, with no reduction permitted. However, if a tenant disputed a fine, the matter could be referred to the other villagers for arbitration. (Paranavitana, 1954)

The pillar was discovered in 1953, lying on the ground near the reservoir. Paranavitana believed it remained in its original location, as there was no plausible reason for it to have been moved from elsewhere.

The stone pillar is 2 meters (6 ft 7 in) in height and 30 centimeters (1 ft) wide on each side. Its script, roughly executed, dates to the 10th century and resembles many pillar inscriptions of King Kassapa V (Ranwella, 2004). However, both Prof. Paranavitana and Prof. Ranwella agree that the King Abha Salamevan mentioned in the text is in fact King Dappula IV (923–924 CE).

Alternate names : Kondawattuwana, Kondawattuwan, Kondawattawana, Kondawattawan, Konduwattuwana, Konduwattuwan, Kondawuttawana, Konduwattawan,

References

Paranavitana, S. (1954). Report of the Archaeological Survey of Ceylon for 1953: Part IV- Education, Science and Art (G). Archaeological Survey of Ceylon.
Paranavitana, S. (1955) ‘KONDAVATTAVAN PILLAR-INSCRIPTION OF DAPPULA V’, in Epigraphia Zeylanica : Being Lithic and Other Inscriptions of Ceylon – Volume V (Part 1). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Department of Archaeology, pp. 124–141.
Ranawella, S. (2004) Inscriptions of Ceylon Vol V (part II). Colombo: Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka

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