{"id":118028,"date":"2021-09-10T16:31:07","date_gmt":"2021-09-10T23:31:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=118028"},"modified":"2021-09-10T16:31:07","modified_gmt":"2021-09-10T23:31:07","slug":"an-outline-of-a-proposed-master-development-plan-for-meemure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2021\/09\/10\/an-outline-of-a-proposed-master-development-plan-for-meemure\/","title":{"rendered":"An outline of a Proposed Master Development Plan for Meemure"},"content":{"rendered":"

By\u00a0 Sudath Gunasekara BA (Hons) Ph.D. (SLAS. Class 1<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

3.11.2003.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This proposal covers the whole of original\nMeemure Vasama that included the Meemure village and few other hamlets of\nGandeka Korale of Uda Dumbara in the Kandy district. It comprises the entire\narea north of Koratuwemunduna (Corbets Gap) surrounded by the\nDotalugala-Dumbanagala-Kehelpathdoruwegala-Telambugala ridge in the South and\nEast, Dotalugala-Paskulupav (Knuckles)-Kalupahana on the West and\nKalupahana-Katakitula-Lakegala-Demalagala range in the North covering an area\nof about 35 sq miles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meemure was a separate Rata during the\nKandyan period and Megastenne Adikarama, the last Prime Minister of the Kandyan\nKingdom himself was the Ratemahattaya of Meemure Rata. This perhaps indicates\nthe importance of this village during the period of the Kandyan Kingdom. Its\nancient history goes back to prehistory and the legendary Lankanagara of\nMahawamsa and Lankapura of Ravana is associated with this village and the\nresplendent giant Lakegala or Lanka pabbata rising up to the heavens behind the\nvillage. Lakegala an exceptional world wonder nature has gifted to Sri Lanka is\nacclaimed as the biggest bare rock outcrop in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nGeographical Setting <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Geographically it is a mountainous area\nwith towering and precipitous mountaintops clad with wet montane type of\nvegetation and narrow valleys with very little flat lands, displaying climatic\nextremes from west to east. In terms of longitude and latitude it is roughly\nlocated between 80.48-80.53 E and 7.22-7.28 N and covers an area of\napproximately about thirty-five square miles of which over 98 % is still under\nforest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The landscape descends from 6112 feet Paskulupav\n(Knuckles) at the western end to almost 500 feet above mean sea level at\nKahatagahawela in the northeast. It measures approximately seven miles from\nsouth to north and six miles from west to east. The Maha Oya Heenganga valley\nat the centre and the encircling mountain ring on the east, south, west and the\nnorth, dominates the entire landscape of the area. It is drained by\nKarambaketiya Oya, Maha Oya, Heenganga, Meemure Oya and Ravana Ela on the left\nbank and Na Ela and Kekelewatta Oya on the right bank. Of these only the three\nleft bank tributaries of Karambaketiya, Maha Oya and Heenganga are perennial.\nThe landscape exhibits a steep drop from west to east and displays a colossal\namphitheatre with three incised mini amphitheatres representing the\nKarambaketiya, Heenganga and Meemure Oya valleys. The elevated St Martin-Na Ela\nsaddle on the right bank is also noteworthy in this regard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The area gets its rain from the northeast\nmonsoon from October to March. The rest of the year is dry. A special feature\nof the dry period is the dry wind (mudusulang<\/em>) that devastates this area\nfrom April to August. These wuthering winds sweep across the valley drying up\neverything that comes within its grip. The rainfall increases as we come to the\nsouth. Thus the annual rainfall at St Martin estate is as 170\u201d whereas at\nMeemure it is even less than 100\u201d. Temperature ranges are equally impressive.\nWhen mean temperature at Meemure village is around 90-95 F, but readings at\nKalupana or the Corbett\u2019s Gap are often around 60-65 F. The month of Ill <\/em>(Nov.15\nto Dec 15) is the rainiest month in this region<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modern geographers have named this region as the Nitre\nCave District after the famous Nitre Cave found on the western slopes of the\neastern ranges. John Davy1 who visited this cave in 1821 has given a\nfascinating account of this cave. According to him it is the biggest Nitre cave\nin Sri Lanka. A northward view from Koratuwe muduna<\/em> (Corbet\u2019s Gap) on a\nclear day affords a unique scenic splendour one may not see any where in the\nworld. Lazarus calls these mountain ranges Ceylon\u2019s Elegant Mountains\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At present Meemure comprises of five Grama\nSevaka<\/em> Divisions. They are\nMeemure, Kumbukgolla, Kaikawala, Pusse Ela and Karambaketiya. Total population\nis 1614, Meemure with the highest, 472. The approximate area of this region is\nabout 40 sq miles of which only 473.3* acres come under paddy (1.5%). Paddy\ncultivation is the only noteworthy economic activity. Hena<\/em> cultivation\nwhich occupied the second most important place in the village economy is no\nmore there now due to banning by government. This decision has badly crippled\nthe village economy and brought about many a hardship to these villagers. Area\npresently under homesteads and sporadic Cardamom cultivations is negligible.\nThis means 98.5 % of the area is still under forest. Leaving a margin for\nreserved forests, patan<\/em>, steep mountains, stream reservations and rock\noutcrops, still there would be a very large extent of arable land available for\nagricultural pursuits. This provides a rough clue to the development potentials\nof the region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The three main constraints of development in this\nregion are<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

1.Lack of proper roads<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.Inadequate water and other infra\nstructure facilities<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.Neglect and lack of commitment by all\ngovernments<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I give below an outline of an updated\ndevelopment plan proposed for the region, which I have conceived way back in\nlate 1960s when I was working as the Divisional Revenue Officer of\nUdadumbara  (2nd<\/sup>.June.1966 to\n1st<\/sup>.April. 1971). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Proposed Plan<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

          This is only an outline. Therefore it\nneeds to be studied in details as to its feasibility and cost estimates etc\nbefore it is implemented. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 Roads<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The present road has to be improved beyond Dambada as priority no.1. The entire section has been haphazardly and unscientifically done in the past using the ancient footpath without doing an engineering survey. The repairs and successive constructions have only fattened the contractors. If someone can at least do the drain and repair the damaged sections immediately, the existing road could be made usable until a better one is constructed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Proposals<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

1.Improve Rangala- Ferndale-Corbett\u2019s Gap\nroad. This was constructed by the British planters in 1880s as an access road\nto their plantations in St Martin. Engineering wise it is the best access road\nto Meemure and also shorter than via Hunnasgiriya by 3 miles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.Attend to repairs of\nHunnasgiriya-Loolwatta-Corbett\u2019s Gap section as a supplementary road<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 Re-do the present Corbett\u2019s Gap Meemure\nMeegahamula road<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    4\nExtend present road from Karambaketiya via St Martin\u2019s \u2013Welgala, Kekalewatta\nto   Totillagasyaya Minipe stage 11 or\nNugagolla through Hulugune, Minipe stage 111. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \na) A new deviation to the right from this road through\nGalamuduna-Pallegaladebokka-Udattawa to Udawela is also suggested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    b)\nLink up the Meemure-Hettipola road with the St Martin-Totillagasyaya road at\nKekalewatta by a bridge across Heenganga at Kekalewatta.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

c) Link up present Damboda Meemure road with the left bank road with a\nbridge across Mahaoya near Martinwatta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An engineering survey of the entire length from\nDamboda to Meemure village proper should be done as a first step prior to\nundertaking any improvements to the existing road. This could be done on a\ncontour using the present road as the base line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Irrigation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
  1. Effect necessary repairs to the Maha Oya-\nHeenganga canal and extend it up to Meemure Oya <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          (This is\noperating very much below capacity at present due to bad maintenance)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

           b)  Construct the following new reservoirs.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n1)  Maha Oya above Tarrifa -2500\nft msl <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n2)  Heenganga above Kaikawala-2000\nft msl<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         Both these will augment the present Maha\nOya-Heenganga supply)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                3)\nOn Meemure Oya at Dalukgolla 1500 ft msl.\n(priority one<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               4)\nMeemure at Wekade at 1400 ft msl and Wewatenna (Both                     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        these sites\nare  ancient village tanks ).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               5) Heenganga-Maha Oya confluence just below\nKaikawala at   1200 ft msl<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               6) Na- Ela at 1700 ft msl south of Nitre Cave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    All these are new reservoirs. They will not\nonly augment the present supplies but they will also bring large extents of new\nland under the plough. The Yala extent will also increase appreciably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Kalupahana- Meemure Trans-basin canal<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Under this proposal it is proposed to build\na transbasin canal to divert the waters of Naranatta Oya (A tributary of\nKaluganga) to the Meemure Oya. (Dimbigolle Oya). This is to be constructed at\nan elevation of 4000 ft msl, carrying the waters of six tributaries to its\ndestination. The approximate length of the canal is about 4 miles. This new\nsupply will make Meemure Oya perennial and provide enough water to fill the\nproposed Dalukgolla reservoir on the Meemure Oya to enhance its irrigation and\nhydro-electricity generation potentialities. It could even enable the entire\npaddy acreage in Meemure to be cultivated for both seasons, which will\nrevolutionize the present income levels. Linking up Wekade with Dalukgolla\nreservoir also should be explored under this work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Since the Kuda Oya and Walpolamulla Oya\n(Both LB tributaries of Kaluganga) provide enough supplies, no threat is\nexpected to the Kaluganga present supply. Further, constructing a reservoir\njust below Walpolamulla Oya \u2013Kaluganga confluence, could increase the downstream\nKaluganga supply. This will enhance the acreage cultivated in downstream areas\nlike Batadanduwala, Rambukkoluwa and Gangahenwala. Therefore diversion of part\nof head waters of Naranatta Oya to Meemure Oya will not create any water\nproblems to the Kaluganga downstream area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At present Meemure village proper has a\ntotal of 70.57 ha of paddy of which only 13.7 ha are cultivated for yala season\ndue to lack of water. The proposed Dalukgolla reservoir with the Kalupana\naugmentation could store sufficient water even to double the present total\nacreage for both seasons. New areas could be brought under the plough under the\nfollowing canals. a) Dalukgolla-Udakumbura Ela; b)Dalukgolla-Moragolla-Bathalahenpitiya-Wekade\nEla; c)Wekade-Kukurumahana-Madugahaella Ela and Tittawarakawa- Gorakattawela\nEla. In addition it will also improve the water table and the microclimate of\nthe entire region and provide water for the generation of hydro- electricity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In addition to its irrigation potentials,\nthe Wekade weva will also turn to be a rare tourist attraction as it is\nexpected to reflect the shadow of the giant Lakegala in its waters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The proposed network of reservoirs and\nirrigation canals will completely change the geographic landscape of the\nregion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Agriculture<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    1. Increase\nthe present acreage under paddy. This could be done in two ways; by increasing\nthe existing yala acreage and increasing the total area under paddy with\nadditional water from the proposed new reservoirs.<\/li>
    2. Bring\nCardamom under better management so that it will not be a danger to\nenvironmental destruction (I don\u2019t agree with banning cardamom cultivation as\nit provides an important source of income for these villagers and also cardamom\ncultivation has been accepted as the best form of land use for this type of\nforests.).<\/li>
    3. Introduce\nnew cash crops such as pepper, coffee, cinnamon, cotton, citrus, cadju, grapes\nand mango etc. on a large scale.<\/li>
    4. A\nprogramme of cultivating medicinal plants like Binkohomba, Nelli, Aralu and\nBulu may also be tried out.<\/li>
    5. Start\na programme of subsidiary food crops like onions, chilies, garlic, turmeric, yams,\nfinger millet, corn, green gram, gram and vegetable like drumsticks, pumpkin,\nwatermelon etc on a large scale. Some of these could be grown both on high\nlands and also in paddy fields where water is not adequate for paddy in yala.<\/li>
    6. Livestock\nfarming. A programme of water buffalo, need cattle, goats and even Sheep raring\ncould be tried under this programme.<\/li>
    7. Bee keeping. This could be very successful\nsince there are sufficient forests around this area.<\/li>
    8. Fruit cultivation like banana, mango,\ncitrus, papaw, pine apple and grapes etc.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      Education<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

      There are three schools here at the moment,\nMeemure, Kaikawala and Na-Ela (Kumbukgolla). But facilities are depressing.\nTherefore this has to be taken up as a priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Industry<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      Agro-based cottage industries are recommended.\nHandicrafts like household items such as rattan and bamboo baskets and read\nmats etc also could be developed, as the talent needed is available here.\nBeekeeping is another industry where there is very big potentiality in this\narea. The cottages in the proposed cultural village (existing) could be used\nfor this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Environmental conservation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      A comprehensive environmental conservation\nprogramme should constitute   a major\ncomponent of this development project. All land above 4500 ft; over 60 % gradient,\nsource areas and all other vulnerable areas should be strictly protected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Urban development<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      A new town to accommodate this development\nthrust and cater to the increased socio-economic needs may have to be opened up\nin a central place where adequate facilities are available. The site proposed\nfor this town is Geduma – a centrally located flat area lying between the two\nvillages of Meemure and Kaikawala. Enough land is available here. Water could\nbe brought from the proposed Heenganga reservoir. Easy access is also available\nfrom the main road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      This town will have all the facilities like\na Central School, a hospital, post office, bank, VC office, a shopping complex\nserving both as a collection center and a sales point and other facilities\nneeded for such a town-let. Present Kaikawala health center should be improved\nat least to a cottage hospital till such time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Mini-hydro projects <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      Mini- hydro projects are recommended for\nall the reservoirs proposed. The projects should be connected to the national grid.\nThey will provide the required power for the local needs both domestic and\nindustrial. There is also a 33 KV HT supply proposed by the CECB via\nLaggala-Pallegama under ADB assistance which I understand is abandoned at the\nmoment. (CEB Ref. No. ADB3 KUDDB 105:File No: UD 105). It is suggested that\nthis project be re-activated. I also suggest that they change the proposed KV\nline route and take it on the eastern side of Lakegala. It will not only reduce\nthe distance and cost but also the damage that would have caused to the upper\nwatersheds covered with primary forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Prospects of wind power should also be\nstudied, as there is a long spell of windy season from April to October in this\nregion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Tourism<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      This is one area where there are enormous\npotentials. The captivating scenic beauty that is not found in any other region\nin Sri Lanka could attract thousands of tourists from world over. The fantasy\nthat opens up at the Koratuwe muduna (Corbat\u2019s Gap) coupled with the\nmesmerizing triangular profile of Lakegala alone will create a tourist boom.\nLakegala, a vertical bare rock outcrop measuring over 2500 ft from the ground\nlevel is the highest bare rock outcrop I have seen in the world. Its\nunparalleled exposed height, enormous beauty and the panorama one could witness\nfrom its summit are destined to make it a number one tourist attraction in the\nwhole world. Many a foreigners have already described this are as an area with\na unique scenic beauty not seen in any other part of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The following cable car services are also recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      a)\u00a0\u00a0 Corbet\u2019s Gap \u2013Dumbanagala and Corbets Gap-Dotalugala
      b)\u00a0\u00a0 Geduma to Meeriyagolla from there to the summit of Lakegala\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 c)From Geduma to Nitre Cave (According to John Davy this is the biggest\u00a0Nitre cave in Sri Lanka.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      R\u0101vana Asapuwa An aesthetic project at Na Ela<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      It\nis proposed that an aesthetic center (A Kala Kendraya) be set up in Na Ela at\nthe foothills of Kosgolla Hills overlooking the panoramic valley of Meemure and\nLakegala. This should be called Ravana Asapuwa\u201d in memory of Ravana the Great\nwho, according to legend is supposed to have built his capital Lankapura in the\nvicinity of Lakegala.  It is also\nsuggested that this center be modeled on the line of Santiniketan of Tagore,\nbut of cause with Sri Lankan characteristics. This should be developed as the\ncenter for all performing Sri Lankan arts with facilities for research and\ndevelopment. It should also have theatres- both open and indoor and residential\nfacilities. The RB Heenganga road will provide access. There was a similar idea\nin early 1950 by a group of aesthetic minded people like proctor Meemanapalana\nbut it was later abandoned. They, I understand, bought the land comprising 1000\nacres, for this project.  The following\nthree people (living) who took part in this mission may also be contacted.\nDr.H.S.S. Nissanka, (Kandy). Edwin Ariyadasa and Tissa Devendra (a nephew of\nMeevanapalana)                                          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Note<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      When implementing this programme of development\nprecaution should be taken not to destroy the purana village between the\nhistoric Mee tree and the proposed Wekade weva. The Unique architectural and\nsociological characteristics of the buildings, stone fences, Bo-maluwa and the\ntraditional cluster type of houses\u201d that is usually found in an ancient\nSinhala village demonstrating its socio-economic and cultural characteristics\nmust be preserved for posterity as a national heritage. These houses could be\nused as venues of traditional cottage industries. This traditional village could\nbe preserved as the Meemure Under the shadow of Lakegala\u201d like the\nShakespeare village by the side of river Avon in England<\/strong> as a tourist\nattraction displaying the life style of the ancient village. In addition to the\nitems gazetted under the Antiquities Ordinance on 18.6 1999 in No 1085 as\nprotected monuments the following items also should be gazette. Bomaluwa,\nKatupandure linda, the Meda walawwa site where the two princess o Sri Wickrama\nRajasingha stayed, Dambagahaella burial site of the two Princess and the\nHistoric Meegaha at the entrance to the village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The road, <\/strong>
      2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Naranatte-Meemure oya transbasin ela and <\/strong>
      3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Proposed Irrigation cum Hydroelectricity projects <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      are the three live wires of this whole\nproposal. This programme of development should definitely open new vistas of\nprosperity for this area and transform it to an entirely a different landscape\nbeyond our comprehension. The new road network will link up the East with the West\nby a new road between Kandy, Trinco and Battticaloa and open up an area\nhitherto secluded from the outside world. With the new economic activities\ngenerated, employment opportunities should increase at an unprecedented scale.\nThereby the income levels and the standard of life of the local people will go\nup. As a result the new development thrust should be able to support at least\nten times the present population (Present population 1614). This will complete\nthe process of opening up the doors of the 21st<\/sup> century world for\nthis secluded ancient village with new economic, social and educational\nopportunities will arrest the present trend of serious ru-urban migration that\nwill obliterate these ancient villages from the map of Sri Lanka if left\nunchecked.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      By\u00a0 Sudath Gunasekara BA (Hons) Ph.D. (SLAS. Class 1 3.11.2003.\u00a0\u00a0 This proposal covers the whole of original Meemure Vasama that included the Meemure village and few other hamlets of Gandeka Korale of Uda Dumbara in the Kandy district. It comprises the entire area north of Koratuwemunduna (Corbets Gap) surrounded by the Dotalugala-Dumbanagala-Kehelpathdoruwegala-Telambugala ridge in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-118028","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dr-sudath-gunasekara"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118028","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118028"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118028\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118028"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=118028"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118028"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}