

An ancient reservoir, the Giritale Tank, is believed to have been built by King Agbo II between 608 and 623 AD. The Mahavamsa chronicle mentions that King Parakramabahu I (1153-1186 AD) “brought water from the Giritale to Kadurudamana through the Kaveri Canal.”
An ancient sluice gate is located at the southern end of the tank’s bund, but only the outlet part is visible today. When the Department of Irrigation renovated the Giritale Reservoir in 1905, after it had been abandoned for nearly seven centuries, this ancient sluice was blocked on the reservoir side, and a new sluice was constructed. Water continues to flow through this old sluice and is used by residents for their domestic needs. However, irrigation officials constantly inspect the area as it is a crucial factor in maintaining the safety of the bund.
Please note that the Google map below marks the approximate location of the Giritale Tank’s ancient sluice gate.
Also See
- Hydro Heritage of Sri Lanka
- Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
- Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity
Map of Girithale Reservoir Ancient Sluice Gate
The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites
Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.
Traveling Directions to Girithale Reservoir Ancient Sluice Gate
| From Polonnaruwa Girithale Reservoir Ancient Sluice Gate |
| Total distance: 16 km Time to travel: 30 minutes Time to spend: Approximately 15 – 30 minutes Driving directions: View on Google Maps |
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