Tissa Wewa (Tissamaharama)

Tissa Wewa is a reservoir in Tissamaharama, thought to have been constructed in the 3rd century BC, either by Mahanaga of Ruhuna or his successor Yatala Tissa of Ruhuna, in order to irrigate paddy lands and supply water to the flourishing city of Tissamaharama.

This article is about the artificial lake located near Tissamaharama. For the artificial lake located near Anuradhapura, see Tissa Wewa (Anuradhapura).
Tissa Wewa
View of Tissa Wewa
Tissa Wewa is located in Sri Lanka
Tissa Wewa
Tissa Wewa
LocationTissamaharama
Coordinates6°17′N 81°17′E
TypeReservoir
Basin countriesSri Lanka
Surface area652 acres (2.64 km²)
Average depth13 ft (4 m)

The lake was restored in 1871. The embankment (or bund) on the southern shore supports the Tissa-Kataragama road (B464), which is lined by old Indian rain trees planted by the British to provide shade.[1]

Bats on the western side of Tissa Wewa
Diagram of Tissa Wewa system from Ancient Ceylon (1909)

References
  1. The Rough Guide to Sri Lanka, Gavin Thomas, Rough Guides, 2012, p. 185.


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