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photo by Mahamed Raasheed
Pavakkulama Reservoir is the largest ancient reservoir found in the whole of Vavuniya district. According to a notice board installed by the Irrigation Department, Its embankment is 10,364 feet (3.2 km) long and has a gross capacity of 27,000 acre feet (33 million cubic meters).
Henry Parker comments on this reservoir in the Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society – Volume XIII (1893-1894) ;
Another tank of Sinhalese construction, which probably dates from pre-Christian times, is Pavatkulam, which was the most important reservoir in the Wanni : —
The bricks employed at two of the sluices are of a much older type than those of the Padawiya sluice, which was built at the end of the third century a.d. Unfortunately there are no inscriptions in the immediate neighbourhood, nor is there any local tradition regarding the originator of the work ; this is doubtless due to the occupancy of the place by the Tamils after they seized upon the district. If Sinhalese had always lived at it, the ancient Sinhalese name of the tank might have been preserved. This reservoir is such an important one that it is almost certain to be mentioned in the old historical works, if we only knew what name it bore. ……………..
……. In the bunds are found the remains of ancient stone sluices, which were usually provided with a bisokotuwa, or valve-pit, built of ” long slabs of stone of considerable breadth and small thickness, laid on edge and fitted together with great care.” Behind the stonework is a backing of brickwork.
There are five of these sluices with bisokotuwas still to be seen at Pavatkulam, and Mr. Parker says, ” so far as I am aware this is the only tank in the Island with more than four.”
Pavakkulama is in fact two adjoining smaller reservoirs connected together similar to the Kala Wewa which is in fact the ancient Kala Wewa and Balalu Wewa. Current Pavakkulama is the result of the combination of the ancient Pavakkulama Wewa and the Ulukkulama (sin. Olu Kulama) wewa in 1958.
Unfortunately the ancient Bisokotuwa’s of the reservoir is forgotten today except the ancient stone carving of a five hooded cobra, the protector of the water resources.
Also See
- Hydro Heritage of Sri Lanka
- Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
- Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity
Map of the Pavakkulama (Pavatkulama) Reservoir
Also See
- Tampita Vihara of Sri Lanka Index
- Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
- Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity
Traveling to Pavakkulama (Pavatkulama) Reservoir
Route from Medawachchiya to Pavakkulama (Pavatkulama) Reservoir |
| Through : Vavuniya Road Distance : 30 km Time to spend : 30 mins Travel time : 40 minutes Driving directions : see on google map |