Padukka First World War Peace Memorial (පාදුක්ක පළමු ලෝක යුද්ධයේ සාම ස්මාරකය)

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Padukka a town lying 33 km from Colombo on the Awissawella road is believed to be founded as a base camp of the ancient Sitawaka Kingdom in the 16th century. It was a well-protected site with marshland and hills surrounding the site. The “Padukka” is derived from the two Sinhalese words “Paha Duka” meaning “sadness be gone” Legend says that the town got its name as it was under the “Naa” (Iron Wood) Trees in the town where the Portuguese Army rested after being defeated by the Army of King Seethawa Rajasinghe in the battle at the adjoining Hanwella Fort. It was said that the defeated Portuguese army rested there until they settled their minds. Thus in Sinhalese, it was called “Paha Duka” which became “Padukka”. The area was surrounded by rubber estates in the early 20th century.

At the centre of the Padukka town roundabout lies an old street lamp on a pedestal made of wrought iron painted in silver colour. Every day thousands pass this roundabout without even glancing at this monument at this curious lamp.

This is an early 20th-century lamp with 5 lamps on a single pole. The lamp structure is made of wrought iron. The lamps were lit by gas as there was no electricity those days. In the early days gas pipes were laid only in the city limits of Colombo. Therefore the gas lamps outside Colombo city were lit by gas stored in a tank at the base of the lamp post.

This special lamp post has been erected to commemorate the end of World War I and at the base of the lamp post you find the inscription “Erected by Peace Memorial Committee 1919”.

This lamp was situated at the centre of the road with no protection and in January 2019, exactly 100 years later a lorry ramped on the lamp post partially destroying the top port of the lamp. However, it was repaired to the original, jointly by the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha and Archeology Department. It is maintained by the Padukka Traders Association and is powered by electricity today.

References

Perera, K.N. (2023) ‘ War Memorials In Sri Lanka – Boer War (1899 -1902), First World War (1914 – 1918) And Second World War (1939 – 1945)’. Colombo: Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association.

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Map of Padukka First World War Peace Memorial

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Travel Directions to Padukka First World War Peace Memorial

Colombo to Padukka First World War Peace Memorial

Via: Battaramulla – Godagama
Distance: 33 kilometers
Travel Time: 1 hour
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References

Also See

Map of Padukka First World War Peace Memorial

Travel Directions to Padukka First World War Peace Memorial

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