Kaudulla Tank

Sri Lanka’s reservoir building technology was at its peak during

the mid-Anuradhapura Kingdom era to Polonnaruwa Kingdom

Era (1017-1236 CE) and most of the largest tanks in the country

were built during this period, The Parakrama Samudraya is

1e largest, constructed with a 14-kilometre dam encompassing 5

Tanks within it were built by King Parakramabahu the Great during the 12th Century. But some other gigantic tanks such as Minneriya Tank and Kaudulia Tank are some of the earlier work belongs to the 3rd Century.

The greatest Tank builder King Mahasena (276-303 CE), who ruled in Anuradhapura, is credited with building the Kaudulla Tank along with 15 other tanks and 2 canals. This tank dam (bund) is 15 metres tall and with a width of 120 metres at the base and runs for a distance of 9.2 km with a capacity of 64 million cubic metres covering an area of 24.5 sq. km.

According to the chronicles, both King Vijayabahu (1055-1110 CE) and King Parakramabahu the Great, (1153-1186 CE) respectively had carried out rehabilitation work on the tank which was formed by building a bund across Kaudulu Oya. The tank receives water along the Elahera-Kanthale Giant Canal, which begins at Elahera Anicut on Amban Ganga, built by King Wasabha (65-109 CE).

The Kaudulla Tank lies off the main roads of Sri Lanka and attracts very little attention except for the Kaudulla National Park, which surrounds this tank. Very little is spoken of this gigantic irrigation wonder of the 3rd Century, which is a much larger construction than the popular Minneriya Tank.

Kaudulla Tank and the Minneriya Tank are also set deep in folklore and legends. One of the traditional tales suggests that after King Mahasen’s death when a prolonged drought took toll of the country and unfavourable seasons for cultivation produced famine and disease, the people of Minneriya turned to their great leader who was said to have supernatural powers to carry out such mammoth tasks and made offerings to Mahasen Deviyo begging for his protection.

(Heritage Lanka by Neil Kiriella 2017, P:212)

Unique Sri Lanka

Kaudulla Wewa Reservoir

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