Hurulu Wewa Reservoir | AmazingLanka.com

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Hurulu Wewa, an ancient reservoir originally known as Challura Vapi, was one of sixteen reservoirs constructed by King Mahasen (276-303 CE), the renowned Sinhalese monarch who ruled over Lanka from 276 to 303 CE.

The reservoir lies on Yan Oya in the remote village of Yakalla, between Anuradhapura and Habarana off Ritigala. It can be approached from Galkulama by traveling 28 km to Yakalla or Ritigala and traveling 20 km to the same village.

Being one of the largest reservoirs in the area, its bund is 8750 feet (2.667 km) long and 81 feet high (25 meters) at its highest. The reservoir covers 4000 acres (16.2 km²) of land. (Arumugam, 1969).

The tank had breached early in the nineteenth century and was lying abandoned, overgrown with forest, till the late D. S. Senanayake, then Minister of Agriculture and Lands ordered its restoration and started work in 1949. It began holding water in 1953, and in December 1957, a great flood destroyed part of the bund. It was subsequently restored in 1958 (Arumugam, 1969).

History of Hurulu Wewa Reservoir

The last paragraph (Chapter XXXVII-47:50) of Mahawamsa, the Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka, describes “To make (the land) more fertile, he (King Mahasena) made sixteen reservoirs: the Manihira (Minneriya Reservoir), the Mahagama (Tissa Reservoir), the Challura (Huruluwewa Reservoir), the Khanu, the Mahamani, the Kokavata, the Dhammaramma-tank, the Kumbalaka and the Vahana, besides the Rattamalakandaka (Padaviya Wewa Reservoir), the tank Tissavaddhamanaka, that of Velangavitthi, that of Mahagallaka, the Clra-tank, the Mahadaragallaka and the Kalapasana-tank. These are the sixteen tanks…)

The Rajawaliya (a historical chronicle of Sinhalese kings) recounts how the king “employed demons in his service” to build reservoirs, utilizing “the labor of demons at night and of men during the day.” This is how Challura Vapi of old, also known as Surulla or Surulu (in Sinhalese), and the modern Hurulu Wewa came into existence. Later, the Pujavaliya refers to King Dhatusena constructing Surulu Wewa, likely as part of restoration efforts. (Arumugam, 1955)

References

Arumugam, S. (1955). Huruluwewa Irrigation Reservoir. Ceylon Today (May – June 1955), IV(5 & 6), 34–36.
Arumugam, S. (1969). Water resources of Ceylon: its utilisation and development. Water Resources Board (Sri Lanka).
Mahanama, Geiger, W., & Bode, M. H. (1912). The Mahavamsa or the Great Chronicle of Ceylon. Translated into English by Wilhelm Geiger. For the Pali Text Society by Henry Frowde.

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Traveling Directions to Hurulu Wewa

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Bus

Anuradhapura can be conveniently reached by bus, train, or private transport. Both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses operate from the Colombo Fort Main Bus Station. In addition, luxury buses departing from various locations in Colombo travel via Anuradhapura to Vavuniya and Jaffna; these require advance online booking and generally operate overnight, arriving at their final destinations early in the morning.

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Train

Five daily trains operate from Colombo Fort Railway Station to Anuradhapura. Typically, the first train departs at 9.40 a.m. and the last at 8.30 p.m. The journey takes approximately four to five hours, depending on the number of stops made by the particular service.

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Car or Van

Anuradhapura can be accessed from Colombo via several routes, with the two primary corridors running through Puttalam and Kurunegala. The Puttalam route passes the scenic Wilpattu area. From Kurunegala, there are two main approaches: the more commonly used route via Dambulla and an alternative route via Galgamuwa. Among all options, the Kurunegala–Dambulla route (Route 2) is the most frequently used.

Route 01 from Colombo to Anuradhapura	Route 02 from Colombo to Anuradhapura
Through: Negombo – Chilaw – Puttalam Distance from Colombo: 210 km Travel time: 4.30-5.00 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps	Through: Negombo – Chilaw – Puttalam Distance from Colombo: 210 km Travel time: 4.30-5.00 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps.
Route 03 from Colombo to Anuradhapura	Route from Kandy to Anuradhapura
Through : Katunayake Expressway – Narammala – Wariyapola – Padeniya – Thambuthegama Distance from Colombo: 203 km Travel Time: 4.30-5.00 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps	Through: Katugastota – Matale – Dambulla Distance from Colombo: 136 km Travel Time: 3.5 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps