Web of Life

A recent geological report aired by Swarnavahini spoke of the discovery of substantial quantities of iron ore in the Wellawaya region. Preliminary estimates, apparently suggests ore sufficient for 100 years.

It is interesting to hear that various specialised bodies reporting their finds as ‘discoveries’. I say this because we in Uva have known for a long time the availability of a number of minerals which had been mined by the natives of old.

During the time of Sinhala kings, readers are aware, almost every activity was based on Rajakariya. Even the mining of precious stones was a part of that for which there were a separate set of people. Towards the tail end of the Uva rebellion of 1818, John Davy, the Surgeon General of the British Army in Ceylon visited a number of English and Malay armed detachments stationed in Uva.

Davy in the course of his sojourn in Ceylon, saw much of the country he did not have to walk, he was carried on a palanquin - and wrote his very useful book on what he saw first hand.

Travelling from Badulla through Pas-saara-gama (modern Passara) Alupotha, Maha-vedi-vata to Kataragama, he describes a number of gem mines and the varieties of stones found.

On his return through Wellawaya along the ancient route at the bottom of the South face of the Haputale hills, he came across a Rajakariya family from Passara mining salt petre in a large cave big enough to hold elephants, who also came there to satisfy their requirement of salt. This cave in all probability is what we know as Ran-van Guhawa into which present day inhabitants go to fetch bat dung for fertiliser unaware of the assistance of a mineral which we import in sizeable quantities.

When Rajakariya was abolished and the new rulers concentrated on coffee, Sinhala miners lost their jobs and along with that the geological history of Uva. It was only about 30 years ago that the people in Passara and beyond realised quite by accident that they were living on rich gem land.

This writer who was the Basnayake Nilame of the Badulla Kataragama Devale perusing the Devale’s "Lekam Mitiya" the codification of the Rajakariyas which the tenants had to perform, was able to identify and verify the presence of iron ore deposits in a village east of Passara. It was the duty of person from this locality to supply an ingot of iron to the Devale annually. It is possible Tholabowatte was an industrial centre for the region. Present day residents were surprised when they were told that the black unidentifiable stuff they threw away as a nuisance was indeed a grade of iron ore.

In the early 1900’s a G. A. in his annual report mentions the presence of graphite in the Wellawaya division which could be mined in commercial quantities.

Persons conducting research on Uva’s Geological past should scour the archives and speak to permanent residents of the region. Especially those of the purana villages. Uva which was inaccessible to most outsiders until after 1818, obviously had a self sufficient economy. Though that part of our history is poorly documented what may transpire from future re-discoveries could be most illuminating and of immense value to the economy of the country.