Historical Background
In the history of country, Kotmale enjoys a very special place. This is due for no other reason than the fact that King Dutugemunu, who is acknowledged as our greatest King, spent his youth in the mountains and valleys of Kotmale. This history, the story of Dutugamunu is familiar to us all. The stream he bathed in is here; the village he lived in is here; the field he tilled is here. The story of his life at Kotmale is part of the folklore, idiom and life of this valley and its people.
From that historic epoch in which Dutugemunu lived, his name and message beckons to all generations that follow. Many are the lessons that we can learn and should learn from his life, his work, his vision and his leadership. In my view, the most important of these lessons is the need for thought and action in keeping with the demands of our time.
Inherited Lands :
More than 3,000 families who lived in the Kotmale valley had to lose their homes and lands, some of them inherited through a continuity of nearly twenty centuries. They were given alternate land on higher elevations of Kotmale itself or in Kalawewa, Maduru-oya, and Ulhitiya, which are being developed under the Accelerated Mahaweli programme.
Geology:
The Kotmale area has had a history of earth slips, landslips, and other geological disturbances. Owing to this great care had to be taken in the design of the various features of the project. Soon after construction work was awarded and during the early stages of the dam construction, when excavations of the riverbed were in progress, the presence of a limestone layer underneath the bed rock below the dam and extending up to the reservoir, was discovered. These and other adverse features led to a through investigation of all the geological features in order to see whether there are practical problems liked landslides above the reservoir leakage of water through the dam foundation into adjoining valleys, earth tremors, etc. which could seriously affect the stability of the project.
Mahaweli Maha Seya :
During times of prosperity in ancient times, great cultural monuments and outstanding structures were built. Similarly in keeping with ancient tradition, a large stupa to be named as Mahaweli maha seya is proposed at Kotmale, to depict the progress and development of the country under the Accelerated Mahaweli Programme. This stupa is to also compensate for the eight Buddhist temples which were inundated and to also stand as a tribute to those who sacrificed their ancestral land, which had been cultivated for generations in the Kotmale Valley.
