Sri Lanka Art Tank

March 01, 2025

Sri Lanka Art Tank

Kala Wewa is located in Sri Lanka Kala Wewa Location Anuradhapura District Coordinates 8°01′N 80°31′E Coordinates: 8°01′N 80°31′E

Primary out flows Jaya Ganga

Kala Wewa is an ancient reservoir located in Anuradhapura District, North Central Province, Sri Lanka. This is the main tank of the Kala-Balalu tank complex and is the origin of the Jaya Ganga or Yodha Canal, an ancient canal that carries water to the Tissa tank, about 54 miles (86.9 km) long. The Aukana Buddha statue, a standing Buddha statue, is also located near the Kala tank.This tank is located 9.7 km from the Kekirawa Divisional Secretariat on the Anuradhapura road via Dambulla.Kala tank was built by King Dhatusena, who reigned in the 5th century AD.[2] After the construction of the Kala tank, the king built another tank called the Balalu tank nearby, and by merging the two tanks, the largest tank in Sri Lanka was created. After King Dhatusena, the tank was further expanded by King Mahinda II (777–797 AD).

It is said that during the construction of the Kala Tank, a Kolugata named Kala was also involved in this. His father is said to have protected the Kala Tank as if it were his own life. At that time, when the Kala Tank was about to overflow and cause great destruction, he jumped into the Kala Tank and sacrificed himself, asking the gods to protect this tank for the people's use forever. It is said that he was then reborn in the heavenly world as the Kadawara Divya Raja Ottamayana Thero, the commander of the Yaksha army and the protector of the divine council.

Repairs

It is said that the Kala Tank was renovated by King Parakramabahu in the 12th century.
The Kala Wewa was renovated several times during the reigns of the British Governors of Sri Lanka, Sir William Henry Gregory (1872–1877)
and Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon (1883–1890)
. After the end of British rule in the country, in 1958, the tank was rebuilt by connecting it to the Bamma Balalu Wewa.
Size of the tankThe circumference of the tank is about 40 miles (64.4 km) and the total area is about 7 square miles (18.1 km).
The length of the river is 22,572 feet (6,879.9 m) and its height is about 48 feet (14.6 m).
The outlet is 216 feet wide and 170 feet long. The banks of the Kala Wewa are between 60 and 80 feet high and about 200 feet wide. It is about 3 miles long.

Regarded as one of the largest ancient tanks, this tank also supplies water to smaller tanks nearby. Water from the Kala Wewa is collected in the Wewa via the Jaya River to supply water to the people of the Anuradhapura metropolitan area. The tank, a major holding point of the Mahaweli Water Transport Scheme, has been supplying water to the people of the North Central Province of Sri Lanka[5] since 1976. The water of the lake is used for freshwater fishing, irrigation, especially for grasses in the valleys.

The Kala Wewa was built by King Dhatusena

Source"Kala Wewa". Kirigalpottha. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
"Things to Do - Excursions: Kala Wewa". The Elephant Corridor. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
"Kurunegala, Yapahuwa and Kala Wewa". TourismSriLanka.org. Accessed 20th April 2012.
With hydroelectric capabilities

Bowatenna Broadlands Canyon Castlereigh Deduru Oya Dyraaba Gal Oya Kotmale Kukule Ganga Laxapana Maskeliya Moragahakanda Moragolla Nilambe Norton Polgolla Randenigala Rantembe Samanala Udawalawe Upper KotmaleVictoria
Irrigation-only (incl. ancient tanks)
Beira Lake Diyawanna Giant's Tank Giritale Lake Inginimitiya Iranamadu Tank Kala LakeKalu Ganga Kandalama Kandy LakeK antaleLake Gregory Lunugam wehera Maduru Oya Minneriya Tank Muthuiyankaddu Kulam Puhulpola Rajanganaya Rambakan Oya RatkindaTissa Wewa (Anuradhapura)Tissa Wewa (Tissamaharama) UlhitiyaVavuni Kulam
done East coast