Eheliyagoda
Eheliyagoda is a town in Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. It is located approximately 47 km (29 mi) east of Colombo.
Eheliyagoda ඇහැලියගොඩ | |
---|---|
Eheliyagoda | |
Coordinates: 6.8486°N 80.2600°E | |
Country | Sri Lanka |
Province | Sabaragamuwa |
District | Ratnapura |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time) |
Sri Lanka Post | 70600 |
Area code(s) | 045 |
The town is the centre of traditional gemstone mining[1][2] and rubber plantations.[3] Ekanite, a rare radioactive gemstone, was first discovered in Eheliyagoda in 1953 by F. L. D. Ekanayake.[4][5]
In 2018 Eheliyagoda was identified as a priority town, to be developed under the Small and Medium Town Development Programme being undertaken by the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development. Proposed improvements under the programme include a public fair and play grounds.[6]
Transport
Eheliyagoda was one of the railway stations on the Kelani Valley line, when the narrow gauge railway line between Avissawella to Opanayake via Ratnapura was opened in 1919.[7] It was closed in 1976 when the branch line between Avissawella and Opanayake was shut down.
The town straddles the A4 (Colombo-Batticaloa) Highway.
Educational
The main schools in Eheliyagoda are:
- Eheliyagoda National College (Est. 1904)[8]
- Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Eheliyagoda (Est. 1926)
Religion
The main temples in the town are:
- Pushparama Purana Viharaya
- Madarasinharama Temple
- Mahara Purana Viharaya
- Sri Nagarukkarama Maha Viharaya
References
- "Gemstone Mining Areas". National Gem and Jewellery Authority (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- The Geology of Sri Lanka (Ceylon). National Museumes of Sri lanka. 1984. p. 243.
- Dissanayake, D. M. A. P.; Gunaratne, P. K. K. S.; Wijesuriya, W. (2016). "Sri Lanka Journal of Food and Agriculture". Evaluation of Farmer Awareness on Rubber Cultivation and Production Technologies in Major Rubber-growing Areas of Sri Lanka. ISSN 2424-6913.
- O’Donoghue, Michael (2012). Gemstones. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 191. ISBN 9789400911918.
- Anderson, B. W.; Claringbull, G. F.; Davis, R. J.; Hill, D. K. (10 June 1961). "Ekanite, a New Metamict Mineral from Ceylon". Nature. Nature. 190 (4780): 997. doi:10.1038/190997a0.
- "Eheliyagoda Town to be Developed as a major city". Government of Sri Lanka. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- Wijesinghe, Magill (27 August 2017). "The Lost Glory of the KV Railway Line". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- "Eheliyagoda NS is a bright spark in the Sabaragamuwa Province". The Sunday Times. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2018.