Kimbulwana Wewa

Kimbulwana Wewa in Kurunegala District is an ancient reservoir built by King Mahasen (276–303 CE) across Kimbulwana Oya. Created at a strategic rock gorge, it fell into ruin after the 13th century before being restored in 1953–1967 to irrigate 1,500 acres of farmland.

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Kimbulwana Wewa (Sinhala: කිඹුල්වාන වැව), historically recorded in Pali as Kumbhilavapi or Kumbhilasobbhaka, is an ancient, medium-sized irrigation reservoir situated within the Ganewatte and Polpithigama Divisional Secretariat Divisions of the Kurunegala District. Located approximately 6.4 km (4 miles) north of the 72nd-mile post on the Kurunegala–Dambulla (A6) highway, the reservoir captures water from the Kimbulwana Oya, known in ancient times as the Kumbhilavana Nadi, a major northern tributary of the Deduru Oya river basin.

The ancient engineers strategically selected a natural gorge formed by a gap in the Lenawa rock ridge, between the twin rocky peaks of Dunugala and Viharakanda, as the site for the reservoir.

Historical Origins and Folklore

The origins of Kimbulwana Wewa date back to the great period of irrigation development during the late 3rd century CE. Historical chronicles, including the Mahavamsa (Chapter XXXVII, verse 48), the Pujavaliya and the Rajaratnakara, credit King Mahasen (276–303 CE) with its original construction. It is counted among the sixteen great reservoirs attributed to this king.

Local folklore offers a mythical explanation for the reservoir’s name and the unusual geological formation at the site. According to the legend, a natural opening in the Lenawa rock ridge was originally carved out by a gigantic crocodile (kimbula) that terrorised the valley. A legendary regional giant (yodhaya) confronted and slew the creature. The giant’s formidable weapon was subsequently transformed into stone by supernatural means and is said to rest atop the northern ridge. This rock formation gave rise to the name Dunugala, meaning “Bow Rock”. The river and reservoir later came to be known as Kimbulwana, interpreted in the folklore as “Crocodile Forest” or “Crocodile Water”.

Engineering Features

The reconstructed earthen embankment extends for approximately 792.4 m. Historical surveys also documented ancient masonry-lined sluice channels on both banks of the reservoir. The southern sluice channel was approximately 3.66 m (12 feet) wide and was lined with carefully dressed granite slabs to protect the structure against erosion caused by high-velocity water discharge.

Decline and Abandonment

Following the collapse of the Rajarata civilisation in the 13th century, population movements towards the southern parts of the island contributed to the decline of the region’s ancient irrigation settlements. Many reservoirs fell into disrepair, were damaged, and eventually became overgrown with dense jungle.

During the centuries of abandonment, local chena cultivators and farmers who cultivated paddy within the dry reservoir bed referred to the ruined site by the names Niramullawewa and Keralankadawela.

Modern Restoration and Resettlement

As part of the post-independence rehabilitation of Sri Lanka’s ancient irrigation infrastructure, the Irrigation Department of Ceylon undertook the comprehensive restoration of Kimbulwana Wewa between 1953 and 1967. The work involved clearing the dense jungle, reconstructing the approximately 792 m-long earthen embankment, installing modern concrete sluices and establishing a gated spillway.

The Kimbulwana Wewa Colonization Scheme commenced in 1955, with land allocated to hundreds of landless farming families. The restored irrigation system brought approximately 607 hectares (1,500 acres) of agricultural land under cultivation, supporting paddy production during both the Yala and Maha seasons.

References

Brohier, R. L. (1935). Ancient Irrigation Works in Ceylon : Western, Southern and the Eastern Areas of the Island: Part III. Government Publications Bureau (Ceylon).
Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka. (2017). හෙළ වාරි පුරාවත : ආරම්භයේ සිට වර්තමානය දක්වා ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ වාරි සංස්කෘතිය පිලිබඳ විවරණයක්: Hela Wari Purawatha : Research Program on Sri Lanka’s History of Irregation from the Begining to Modern Times. Mahaweli Center, Sri Lanka.
Mendis, D. T. (Ed.). (2019). මද්‍ය දැදුරු ඔය හා මී ඔය නිම්නයේ ජනාවාස පුරාවිද්‍යාව. Research and Publication Fund of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.
Parker, H. (1909). Ancient Ceylon: An Account of the Aborigines and of Part of the Early Civilisation (1st ed.). Luzac & Co.