The Kantale Tank, one of Sri Lanka’s oldest reservoirs, provides water to a large region of Trincomalee and the surrounding areas for paddy and sugar cane fields and human consumption.
Introduction
The Kanthale Tank was built daming the Kantale Oya which begins from Hurulu Forest Reserve and falls onto the sea from Trincomalee. The reservoir is also fed by the waters of Yodha Ela which brings water from the Elahera Amuna to Minneriya Wewa and Kaudulla Wewa.
History of Kantale Tank
Kantale Tank, also known as “Gangathala Vapi,” is said to have been erected by Aggabodhi the II (606-618) and then renovated and developed by Parakramabahu the Great, according to the ancient chronicle Mahavamsa (1153-1186). The total area is 3,750 hectares. It was built to irrigate agriculture in this arid region.
Kantale was known as Ganthalawa since the days of the kings. The British called it Candelye and Candelye, Tamils used to write and pronounce it as Kathalai due to the lack of letters and sounds in the Tamil language.
The great chronicle of Sri Lanka, Mahawamsa records that Kantale Wewa which is referred to as ‘Ganthala Vapi‘ was built by King Agbo the II (608-618) and was rehabilitated and further developed by King. It is believed that King Agbo II built over a small reservoir which was already existing by that time. Many rich folklore are woven around this ancient reservoir situated in the Trincomalee district. Both the Dutch and English who governed the country before we gained independence are recorded to have carried out reconstruction and rehabilitation work on this reservoir.
Details of Kantale Tank
The Kantale Wewa covers an area of 23 sq km and has a carrying capacity of 115Mn million cubic meters at full capacity. The dam is 16.75 meters high and 2.5 km long. Next to Kantale Wewa is a smaller reservoir which is now called Vendarasan Wewa which also has been subject to a name change in the recent past by the politicians who are feeding the Tamil homeland concept. This reservoir has been known as Jayaraja wewa but its history is unknown. The general belief is that the Jayaraja Reservoir was built by King Wasabha (65-109 AD) and was donated to the Brahmin who was meditating in a nearby rock cave to heal his eyes. Today this reservoir is fed by Kantale Wewa through 4 large tubes with a diameter of 3 meters.
