Tissa Wewa (Tissamaharama)

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Tissa Wewa
Thissa Lake tisaa vaev, Thissamaharama, Southern Province, Sri Lanka.jpg
View of Tissa Wewa
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Tissa Wewa
Location Tissamaharama
Coordinates 6°17′N81°17′E / 6.283°N 81.283°E / 6.283; 81.283
Type Reservoir
Basin  countriesSri Lanka
Surface area652 acres (2.64 km2)
Average depth13 ft (4 m)

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.

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 Bats Tissa Wewa.JPG
Bats on the western side of Tissa Wewa
Diagram of Tissa Wewa system from Ancient Ceylon (1909) Tissa Wewa (Tissamaharama) diagram from Ancient Ceylon book, 1909.jpg
Diagram of Tissa Wewa system from Ancient Ceylon (1909)

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References

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