Funday Times

This article is part of a continuing series on the ‘Mahavamsa’, the recorded chronicle of Sri Lankan history

The great service rendered by King
1. King Dhatusena constructed 18 tanks and built 18 temples as well. Among the temples he built are Kala-Wewa Vihara, Kelapasawa Vihara, Badulla Vihara, Miyugunu Temple, Savatiya Temple, and Karapitidasen Temple.

2. The greatest feat of King Dhatusena is the Kala-wewa. It stretches over an area of 200 hectares, which is approximately 600 acres. By the time of King Dhatusena’s rule, the city of Anuradhapura was densely populated. Water was in great demand to work their fields. To help the farmers he got a 86 metre long canal cut. This is named Yoda Ela. It is also called Jaya Ganga.

3. This canal is a wonderful construction. It flows down along flat land and its drop is just one inch for one mile. It brought water to the Tisa-Wewa. In the past, in Sri Lanka, there lived great men who possessed such engineering skills. They were specialized in irrigation.

4. Even modern foreign engineers are surprised at this amazing skill. It was by building a dam across the Kala Oya - that the Kala Wewa was built. This remains the biggest tank built by King Dhatusena. Kala Oya receives water from both monsoons, the South-West and the North-East. As a result it remains full, everyday of the year.

5. By building the Kala-Wewa and diverting the water through the Yoda-Ela, sufficient water was supplied to the city of Anuradhapura. The water collected in the Tisa-Wewa was later distributed to the other tanks. The fields were well watered and the people were able to obtain a rich harvest. Some other tanks built by this king are - Madatugama Wewa in the Kurunegala District, Panagama Wewa in Mannar, Maanamatu Wewa which is known as Yoda Wewa today, Madda-Kutiya Wewa in the vicinity of Sangamy Vihara in the Kurunegala District and Ma Eliya Wewa close to Ibbagamuwa.

6. King Dhatusena attended to the restoration of a number of Buddhist shrines. Monara Pirivena was completely reconstructed. All the canopies of the ‘Chetiyas’ that were broken, were replaced. He got the Brazen Palace repaired. He also conducted a special Bodhi-Pooja, like the one held by King Devanampiyatissa.

7. When King Mahasen was acting against the Mahavihara, monks belonging to the Dhammaruchi Sect, fled from Anuradhapura. They were residing in Chetiyagiri. When King Dhatusena built a temple in Mihintale, with the intention of offering it to the monks of Mahavihara, the monks of the Dhammaruchi Sect requested that it be offered to them. The king being a pious individual, offered it to them. The king organized a grand alms-giving on the same day.

8. This king conducted a procession to honour Arhant Mahinda. A statue of Arhant Mahinda was taken in the procession that went along all the streets of the city of Anuradhapura. The procession ended at the place where Arhant Mahinda was cremated. All the monks who took part in the procession were served meals. King Dhatusena also repaired the Abhayagiri temple.Dhatusena

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