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Eheliyagoda is a town in Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. It is located approximately 72 km (45 mi) east of Colombo.
Eheliyagoda
ඇහැලියගොඩ | |
|---|---|
  Eheliyagoda | |
| Coordinates: 6°50′55″N 80°15′36″E / 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 | 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 playgrounds.[6]
Transport
editEheliyagoda 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.[citation needed]
The town straddles the A4 (Colombo-Batticaloa) Highway.
Educational
editThe main schools in Eheliyagoda are:
- Eheliyagoda National College (Est. 1904)[8]
- Eheliyagoda Dharmapala National College(Est. 1926)
- Eheliyagoda Al/Aqsa Muslim Maha Vidyalaya.
- Amuhenkanda vimalasara maha vidyalaya
Religion
editThe main temples in the town are:
- Pushparama Purana Viharaya
- Madarasinharama Temple
- Mahara Purana Viharaya
- Sri Nagarukkarama Maha Viharaya
- Ambanoluwa Rajamaha Viharaya
- Sri Vimalaramaya thalavitiya
The main mousqe in the town are:
- Al Falah jumma Masjidh (V727+9H8, Ratnapura Road, Eheliyagoda, Sri Lanka)
References
edit- ^ "Gemstone Mining Areas". National Gem and Jewellery Authority (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ The Geology of Sri Lanka (Ceylon). National Museums 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. 190 (4780). Nature: 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.