Sri Lanka is a land blessed by a balmy, beneficial climate good for to flourishing bio - diversity and undecayed forests, not to mention breathtaking hills and sun - kissed beaches, all relatively guarded from natures ravages by an all - encompassing ocean. This fertile land of notably, which its first European visitors have called Paradise on earth, is home to a civilization whose history spans several millennia. Over the wandering mists of time, it has served as a noted grain exporter of Asia, a world - celebrated trader of spices and jewels as well as a stronghold of Buddhism which assisted in its cultural, artistic and technological advancement and shaped its political specification. However, the Mahaweli River is gladly the key performer among all the natural geological gifts of the island that helped this civilization thrive.
The Mahaweli River begins its great voyage upon the plateau of Horton Plains in the mountainous terrain at the islands heart, 1200 metres primary sea in line. These waters are fed by the tributary of Kotmale Oya, which itself glides down from the Hatton mountains from an rolled higher elevation of over 2100 metres. During the months of monsoon, the catchments of these rivers overflow into the surrounding valleys of the Dry Zone, creating generative fields ideal for agriculture. The Mahaweli River thus flows down in a serpentine meander down to Trincomalee, where it then descends into a massive submarine canyon that leads to the Bay of Bengal.
In the course of this journey, the river covers a drainage basin whose area equals one - fifth of the island, and carries a quantity of water that comprises more than 20 percent of the islands total river runs. In addition, the submarine canyon of the Mahaweli River makes Trincomalee one of the finest natural deep - sea harbours ever discovered, a fact which continues to play a significant part in the countrys trade and foreign relations.
It is this river which nurtured and nourished the cradle of Sri Lankan civilization the dry zone lands. The ancients learned to harness the power of this mighty river in order to formulate major irrigation schemes that made the island not only self - sustaining in terms of agriculture, but also earned it the nickname the Granary of the East. The earliest recorded manipulation of the Mahaweli River appears in the 5th century BC. Most of these ambitious reservoirs, dams and a complex system of canals still endure today, with very little restoration work needed. These are standing monuments to the sophisticated knowledge of hydraulic engineering employed by the ancients of the land, whose feats still amaze modern - day scientists.
Today, the Mahaweli River is the key player in national power generation, which relies primarily on hydro - electricity. The six great power plants along the Mahaweli River account for over 40 % of the countrys energy generation.
The irrigation schemes of yesteryear that turned dried - out meadows into ripe fields of golden paddy are still in place today, expanded and restored by the Mahaweli Ganga Development Scheme of the 1970s. This is the largest integrated development scheme ever launched in the island, designed to address a host of socio - economic issues, from urban planning and power generation to employment and flood control, over a strategic period of 35 years. Much of the landless poor and formerly disenfranchised farmers that make up the rural majority of the nation owe their livelihoods to the Mahaweli River and its development scheme.
Thus it is that today, as in the days of yore, the arterial lifeblood of the Emerald Isles economic stability, sustenance, technological advancement and cultural heritage is still contained in the mighty arm of the River Mahaweli.
Travellers who wish to learn more about the great river and the cultural wealth it has helped spawn over the centuries should begin their journey in the hills of Kandy. When selecting suitable accommodation among Kandy hotels, the Chaaya Citadel Kandy emerges as one of the hotels in Kandy that boasts stellar service as well as a range of facilities and amenities catering to every taste.
