Archaeological Ruins in Welioya Nikawewa

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කිවුල් ඔය ජලාශ ව්‍යාපෘතියෙන් මතුවුණු වැලිඔය නිකවැව ප්‍රදේශයේ පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්ථාන - Archaeological Ruins in Welioya Nikawewa Area — කිවුල් ඔය ජලාශ ව්‍යාපෘතියෙන් මතුවුණු වැලිඔය නිකවැව ප්‍රදේශයේ පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්ථාන – Archaeological Ruins in Welioya Nikawewa Area
ජයාරුපය : Proposed Kivul Oya Reservoir Project – EIA FINAL Report.

Nikawewa in Mullaitivu District is a remote agricultural area a few kilometers north of Welioya. Fields in this area is fed by Nika Wewa and Nilpokuna Wewa. The area south of Nikawewa is a large forest area that has been covered in trees for thousands of years.

The environmental impact assessment report carried out under the proposed Kivul Oya Reservoir Project has identified more than fifty archaeological sites in Mullaitivu District that may be affected by this project. Meanwhile, it mentions several archaeological sites in the Nikawewa area. The locations are shown below.

The GPS locations of the following locations can be viewed on the Google map below.

Wediwettukallu South Archaeological Site with a Image House

This archaeological site is located in the upper end of the proposed Kivul Oya Reservoir. Due to removing earth from the surrounding area, this site appears to be a high ground today. The center of the image house, which is made up of 4 stone pillars each, has been dug up by treasure hunters a few years ago. This image house is 38 meters long and 8 meters wide.

More details on this page ↗️

Ruins of Ancient Settlement in Nikawewa

This place is located in the area where the proposed Kivul Oya Reservoir embankment will be constructed. There is a hole with a diameter of 4 meters and a depth of 2 1/2 meters dug by treasure hunters. Fragments of bricks, tiles and potsherds are found in this area and a large amount of bricks are also found in the flooded stream about ten meters west of the site.

This place can be identified as an old settlement. The bricks found here are about eight inches wide. About 50 meters west of this place, large pieces of pottery are found on the surface. The proposed Kivul Oya Reservoir Dam will have a direct impact on this location.

To reach this place, you can travel from Padaviya to Welioya, pass the bridge over Welioya Ma Oya and turn towards Nedunkeni and from that road you can reach this archeological site by walking along the graveled Wediwettukallu road in the direction of 623rd Force Headquarters for about 4.1 km.

Archaeological Remains on the Rock near Wediwettukallu Road (48)

After traveling 3.9 km along Wediwettukallu road, there is a rock about thirty feet high in the northern direction. Even though it is only about 40 meters away from the road, this rock is covered by the dense jungle.

There are post holes carved in this rock and a small reservoir at its base with a wall like ridge. The lower part of this rock has broken at several places but the upper part has not been damaged. Examining the post holes here, it appears that a rectangular building was built on the rock. It is stated that this archaeological site will not be affected by the proposed project.

Divulwewa Stupa Archaeological Site

This archeological site is located on a rock in the forest off the above explained archaeological remains on the rock near Wediwettukallu Road. A stupa mound and stone pillars as well as a Siripathul Gala (Foot Print of Buddha caved on a stone) are found in this place. The stupa mound was dug to a depth of three meters by the treasure hunters. Large pieces of bricks are found at the place.

The two places with stone pillars beyond the stupa mound have also been dug up and destroyed by treasure hunters. Tiles and bricks are common here. Some pottery sherds are also visible and the pit have been excavated to a depth of more than two meters. It has been stated that the Siripatul Gala found here seems to have been brought from another place.

It is stated that this archaeological site will not be affected by the proposed project.

Stone Building Ruins in Nikawewa South

Although this place has been designated as a forest reserve for elephants in the proposed Kiwul Oya Reservoir Development Project, the land has been marked for paddy farming. Among the archaeological sites found in this area, this stone building has been identified as a important archaeological site. Like other places, this place is also under the grip of treasure hunters.

There are 24 stone pillars found here, 10 of which have been uprooted by treasure hunters. Fragments of bricks and tiles are also found in this area.

Sapumal Wewa

This is a large ancient reservoir covering about 170 acres in the Nikawewa South region. The dam here is about 750 meters long. More water is to be supplied to this reservoir under the Kivul Oya Reservoir Development Project. Athawetunaweva Sri Udumbararama Rajamaha Vihara is located not far from this reservoir.

Ethawatunuwewa Sri Udumbararama Rajamaha Viharaya Archaeological Ruins

The present Sri Udumbararama Rajamaha Viharaya is built on this archaeological site. Most of the ancient artefacts have been lost due to new buildings and human activities around them, but there are stone pillars belonging to 2 buildings and remains of a stupa mound.

More details on this page ↗️

Nikawewa Viharaya Archaeological Ruins

This temple is located in the east of the Nikkewa reservoir embankment. This is a small temple full of ancient artefacts. A new bodhi and a small dwelling house have been built in the present temple. A new image house is being built.

More details on this page ↗️

References

Mahaweli Consultancy Bureau (pvt) Ltd, 2020. Environmental Impact Assessment Report For The Proposed Kivul Oya Reservoir Project. Final Report. Colombo: Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka.
2014. Proposed Kivul Oya Reservoir Project. EIA FINAL Report. Colombo: Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka.

Also See

Map of Archaeological Ruins in Welioya Nikawewa

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