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
Town
Eheliyagoda
Coordinates: 6.8486°N 80.2600°E / 6.8486; 80.2600
CountrySri Lanka
ProvinceSabaragamuwa
DistrictRatnapura
Time zoneUTC+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
  1. "Gemstone Mining Areas". National Gem and Jewellery Authority (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  2. The Geology of Sri Lanka (Ceylon). National Museumes of Sri lanka. 1984. p. 243.
  3. 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.
  4. O’Donoghue, Michael (2012). Gemstones. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 191. ISBN 9789400911918.
  5. 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.
  6. "Eheliyagoda Town to be Developed as a major city". Government of Sri Lanka. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  7. Wijesinghe, Magill (27 August 2017). "The Lost Glory of the KV Railway Line". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  8. "Eheliyagoda NS is a bright spark in the Sabaragamuwa Province". The Sunday Times. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
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