SORABORA LAKE ''..

            SORABORA 

ENTRANCE GATE

SORABORA

Elara reigns in the 2nd century BC.  The Elara Tamils ​​came to Mahiyangana to plunder the gold found in the Myuguna Maha Seya, which houses the relics of Gautama Munirajun and the hair relics.  In the past as well as today, foreigners plundered ours.  Neighboring Indians were at the forefront of the bandits.  It is an unbroken record held by the Indians from then until today.  These robbers did not stop there and established a local kingdom here under a leader named 'Jhatta' which later became a stronghold of the Elara Kingdom.

 Under the first phase of Prince Hun Gemunu's humanitarian operation to liberate Lak Maun from the clutches of foreign powers, unite the country, revive the great historical task of uplifting the nation and organize the army, the Tamil thugs including Jhatta were driven out of Mahiyangana  .  Prince Gemunu then stayed there and made plans to rebuild the city which had been destroyed by the enemy.  King Sumana Saman, Arahant Sarabhu the Great, and finally King Uddha Chulabhaya II, the second king of Pathis, enlarged the Miyuguna Seya to a height of Sathriyan, Twelve Riyans and Trisriyan respectively and built the Asurian Dagoba at the forefront of the plans.  Is.  The princes stayed here for several years, observing these reconstruction programs and organizing troops for the final battle.

LARGE BODHI

                 Unlike today, 'eating betel' at that time was very much intertwined with daily life.  Prince Gemunu, who was born into a royal family and was always among the people, could not live without 'betel' and the princes had vacancies for a loyal royalist to grow betel here.  A strong and pious man who lived in a small village called Kiripattiya in the Ududumbara area at the foot of the beautiful Hunnasgiriya mountain was appointed for this purpose.  Everyone in the palace called him 'Bulatha'.  The naming of nicknames according to the work, behavior, and personality of the person was as prevalent today as it was then.  His duty was to make betel nut seven times a day and present it to the king.  Beetroot was to be prepared and served after breakfast, at ten o'clock in the afternoon, after lunch, after dessert in the evening, after tea at thirty o'clock in the evening, after dinner, and before going to bed at night.  Once Betel was here, Betel used to travel around the city until the next season.

 Unlike today, Hela was strong then.  Analyzed.  Is creative.  Honest.  That morning, after completing the betel service, Bulatha walked north from Mahiyangana.  Resting on a rocky plateau surrounded by thickets, he watched for a moment as he gazed at the blue stream that flowed down the plain between two small boulders.  He also had no idea how much time had passed.  The irrigation design drawn in that mind is amazing, demonstrating the uniqueness of a free, creative mind.  Amazingly repulsive.  If a dam was built across the two rocky hills, the field, which was fertile with the number of cows that would be built from it, would have been well-painted in his mind.  Awesome.  A villager who used to sit on a rocky plateau in the morning and evening betel leaves here to rest.  Out of it stood a great designer.  An engineer.  A designer.  That is the uniqueness of the disciplined lovely human mind.

FOREST

Bulatha was determined to see that irrigation plan become a reality.

 He did not break the milk jug by dreaming of great mansions.  The next day, as usual, the king grew betel here.  He planned to use the rest he got during his duties to make his irrigation dream a reality.  Accordingly, during each of the two betel missions, he took his hoe and the basket and began to build the dam across the two rocks.  Bulatha's hoe and basket are not sent so-and-so.  The average man cannot lift his hoe alone.  It requires at least three average people.  The same goes for the basket.  He lifts 20-25 men out of his basket and lifts the soil alone at once.

 But we must remember here that 'Bulatha' is not one of the ten giants.

 Bulatha ensured that the betel service and the irrigation service were performed in a balanced manner as the 'betel service' was a 'duty' more important than the goddess.  It did not take long for this wonderful man to cut the soil, fill it between the two rocks, and build a well-trodden dam.  The next stage in the industry was the construction of the sluice and the water jet.  At both ends of the gorge were large boulders.  The sluice built by him by cutting and digging the stone at the recent end still amazes the world's most talented engineers.  There is no such thing in the world of design.  It's so great.  Is energetic.  Excellent.  Sorabora Lake holds a unique position among the world's great irrigation industries due to the excellent irrigation engineering technology used in its sluice design.  At a time when technology is not so advanced as it is today, Bulatha's skill in creating a sluice that drains water under such pressure is astonishing.  Legend has it that Bulatha used a special compound to melt the rock from the sap obtained from several plants to make this cut in the middle of the rock.  It is said that the compound was spread on rocks, mixed with large black stones, and then removed with a hoe.

 He built a sluice by digging a rock at the recent end and dug a rock at the far end to allow more water to drain into the lake.

 The water coming from the catchment area called 'Ihaththawa' of the lake passes through three small tanks called 'Kulu Wew'.  This water joins the second when the first lake overflows, the third when the second overflows and the third overflows into the Sorabora tank.  A 'doorknob' is a simple door-to-door device used to dispose of junk and save what you need.  The temptation to use the same technology here in the fullest sense of the word demonstrates the great practicality of man at that time.  The sludge added to the rain water by the washing of the mountains is greatly reduced by crossing the three Kulu tanks, thus minimizing the accumulation of mud in the Sorabora tank.  Although Sorabora Wewa is rich in all the common features of a lake such as Pitawana, sluice, Biso Fort, Ralapanawa, tank bund etc., it is a special feature that no 'mud sluice' has been built in it.

 Did Bulatha forget the 'mud sluice' that did so much?  No.

 The sludge that collects in the lake flows out of the sluice through the bisque due to the high pressure exerted by the sluice during the passage of water.  This mud travels along the canals and then deposits on the paddy fields, contributing to a rich harvest without the use of fertilizers.  It is worthwhile to find out how many of the great skills, abilities and knowledge that Bulatha possessed at that time are possessed by the present engineer who claims to be advanced.

 Bulatha was not single.  He had a wife as energetic as he was.  She is the one who brings him food when he builds Bulatha Wewa.  O Kiripattiya built a short path from the village through a gorge that fell across the Malay rock.  Bulatha carried the broken stones, and she paved the way for herself.  Later it became a very good, comfortable way for many people.  However, today the Kandy - Mahiyanganaya main road has fallen through the 18th bend, but the Kandy - Mahiyanganaya road with a history of over 2550 years had fallen at Hunnasgiriya, Denapitiya, Naiyanthuduwa, Kiripattiyagama, Galimuraya, Kanahampitiya Gangoda, Kaluntenna, Pitawala, Uduwalaha.  Through the ancient villages of Galpadihala, Morayaya and Weragantota.  Part of this historic path was devised by Bulatha's wife.  It is said that some parts of this stone paved road are still safe today.

 The betel leaves grown here for the princes are also worshiped daily by Myuguna Maha Se Radhun.  Glad to see it being built.  The renovation work of the city of Mahiyangana, which was started by Prince Gemunu, was slowly being completed and the Great Stupa was 80 feet high and looked like a milk bubble.  By this time Bulatha had also successfully completed his new irrigation mission.  Thousands of monks from Deeghawapiya, Magampura, Sithulpawwa and many other places visited the Mahiyangana Seya and a large number of people from Ruhuna participated in the ceremony.

 On the last day of the festival Bulatha came before the princes;

 "God, I'm building a tank."  Come see it! ”

 He said.  Accepting Bulatha's request, Prince Chathurangani and his entourage went to see 'Bulatha's tanks'.

 The prince could not believe his eyes when he saw the lake rippling over the blue waters of the horizon.  The joy was boundless.  The MPs, ministers, generals and the people who came with the princes were amazed to see this great lake which was the work of a single man.  The princes were amazed to see that in a very short period of time a fully equipped tank would be built, fulfilling its duty to the letter.

 "This is a miracle!"  Child, how many more did you enlist the help of? ”

 "God, I did not get the help of any of the ancients."  I got support from these four people. ”  Bulatha showed the princes the hoe, the basket, the shell and the hammer hidden beside him.

 The princes who saw that did not want a commentary on his physical strength;

 "Baby, I'm so excited about your very heavy irrigation industry.  This tank industry of yours will help the development of the country, the nation and future generations. ”

 Prince Gemunu at that time lived in a temporary palace in Mahiyangana.  The princes who took Bulatha and his wife to his mother queen, Vihara Maha Devi, told the Queen the wonderful description of the amazing irrigation work done by Bulatha and the stone steps that his wife had completed.

 Upon hearing this, Vihara Maha Devi was overwhelmed and paid homage to Bulatha's wife by wearing a precious pearl necklace around her neck.  The princes also took off their precious gold shoulder straps and put them on Bulatha's shoulders and gave him a name and a name.  At the request of the Nandimithinjara giant, Bulatha also joined the Hela Yodhavali and became the eleventh of the ten great giants.

 It is said that Bulatha was appointed as the Minister of Irrigation at the Gamini Abhaya Raja Sabha as Prince Gemunu was preparing the troops for the last phase of the humanitarian operation to save the country, the country and the time.

 Since the princes said that this was a heavy tank industry, the irrigation industry has been called 'Harabara Wewa' ever since.  Harabara Wewa later came to be known as 'Sarabara' Wewa and later came to be known as 'Sorabora' Wewa and later in the book 'Irrigation Industry'.

 Look at the power of betel nut

 Water falls under the keyed stone door

 Those who come and go are often on the balloon

 The dumb eyes that had not seen Sorabora Wewa were also blessed

 It is still a well known folk poem in Uva Wellassa about Bulatha's unique irrigation industry.  According to the poet, "Did she blink her eyes when she did not see Sorabora Wewa?"  I think it's after learning about the past here.  If you have the opportunity to go to the Bintenna (Mahiyanganaya) event in Uva Wellassa, you should not forget to experience the splendor of Sorabora Wewa.  You will also have the opportunity to board a boat and explore the lake.  It is sure to add to the fondest memories of your life.

 The Blessed Arahant Samma Sambuddha, our Master, who taught the world the perfect knowledge of 'Pina', spoke of the great meritorious deeds which increase day and night.

 "If there is anyone who grows flowers and fruits for the people, plants trees, builds bridges, makes restrooms, packs ponds, and donates houses, they will be blessed day and night."

 (Forest Formula - Ed.)

 A tank was built by the Bulatha giant.  A path was made by his wife.  These cater to the needs of thousands of people day and night.  Provides comfort.  In the same way, for Bulatha and his wife, growing up day and night is no small feat.  We look forward to seeing all those merits.  The present heartfelt gratitude for this great deed done by them, who devoted all their time, wealth and wealth to the cause of the three, must be due to that glorious past.  Congratulations to those great men of the age and dear people who dedicated their present for the country - the day - the season!

 Truly unique creations like Sorabora Wewa are a real pride for Lak Mauna.  Proud of every Sri Lankan.  The fact that the Helas performed these miracles while the Western nations were in the process of burning leaves and burning meat only intensifies its value.  Ironically, it is the same Westerners who come to teach us today and teach us everything.  Sadly, like a flock of cowards with broken backs, we are flocking to the West.

* Teachnical Establishment of Sorabora Wewa

- Current Area: 16.89 square miles

- Maximum water capacity: 16800 acre feet

- Length of tank bund: 1590 feet.

PHOTOGRAPHER :- prasadi