Local residents say that parts of an ancient road and bridge have emerged due to the drying up of Anuradhapura’s Mahakanadarawa lake due to the prevailing dry weather. (Sri Lanka Latest News)
They also mention that it was built as a permanent road a few meters from the middle of the lake and parts of a bridge have emerged at the end of the road.
During an inquiry in this regard, Mr. Chandana Rohana Vithanachchi, Professor of the Department of Archeology of Rajarata University, said that the road was built in the early days of the British era.
The professor also mentioned that with the restoration of the lake, the road has been flooded.
He said that the Mahakandara lake was built by King Mahasen in the third century AD by crossing the Kandara Oya.
In the early period, the lake was named as Kanavasi and it is considered as one of the main large-scale lakes built in the early period.
He mentioned that Kandara Oya was built by making a weir in Mirisgonia Oya, a branch of Dambulu Oya, and archeological evidence has been found that it was constructed by connecting Kala Oya valley and Malwatu Oya valley.
The professor further said that there was evidence that there was a main road from Anuradhapura to Trincomalee via Seruvavila near the Mahakandara lake and that there were ancient settlements.
