1 Day Trip to handover House to one of Poorest Family in Alawwa & visit Nearby Important Places

We received an information about very poor family in Medagampola in Alawwa. The information we received was hard to believe. Therefore we went to see them after 2 days. Information was correct & we saw their family condition. I don’t have words to say about my feelings when I saw their hut/ shelter.

Father & son in this family. Mother died after few months of time from child’s birth. From that day onwards father looks after this child. Important thing was this child very good for his studies under zero facilities. Father’s main aim also educates this child as much he can. Now this child 8 years old & from his birth they lived in Alawwa Main bus stand & cemetery. Past few years they requested help from area’s political leaders & rich persons. But no one help them in last 8 years. Finally new “Grama Sevaka” came to this area & under his assistance they received a small land from Government land in Medagampola area few months ago. In this land they built a hut using pieces of wood & polythene. But that hut not suitable for living. Normally people gave hut for their dogs better than this. You can get clear idea when you refer the photos. We decided to build a new home for them. For complete this project few friends joined with me. As usual large number of friends & relatives ignores to join with this project. Finally we mange to complete the construction work within two months of time facing with large number of difficulties. On February 04th we arrange to handover new house to this poor family. Around 5.30 a.m we left from home & we reached to Alawwa around 8.00 a.m. We took furniture items ( bed , chairs) , mosquito net , kitchen ware items, toys , school bag with stationery items , sweets / food items & other many household items for them. From main road we have to go on small road up to the house. Vehicles can’t go on that road & we have to carry all the items we brought nearly 500 meters. Again we have to cross “Edanda” to reach to the house. There was saying “Wise persons can’t cross the “Edanda” & because of that we cross it very carefully. Finally we reached to their new home & we handover the all items we brought for them The “Grama Niladhari” also joined with us in this occasion. The little one was delighted & he never received such load of gifts in his lifetime. He was so happy because first time in his life he can sleep in the bed under mosquito net. These things not strange for normal children , but for this child it was a great experience. We spent couple of hours with them & we left from there around 9.30 a.m. Our hearts filled with happiness more than the weight of  vehicle load of donate items. We completed our mission & this was our 3rd house of donate to poor families. Our help surely uplift this family living  condition & it will help to this child become a good person in future. On the way we went see another poor family in that area. One child in that family was disabled & but he was very good in his studies. So we donate school items , Sweets / food items & cloths to them also.

After completing our main target we decided to visit nearby few important places.  We visited below mentioned places.

1.Medagampola Ulpatha / Pathaha

2.Galatare Village & Weda Nivasa

3.Medagampola Raja Maha Viharaya

4.Hakbelikanda Aranya

5.Thalagama Raja Maha Viharaya

After visiting all above places we reached to home in the evening. We completed another big project & big trip with lots of happy memories.

Thanks for reading

Sanjeewa

They lived in this hut In December 2016

Father & son in front of their hut

This chair also they brought from near house for us

Starting construction work

Now February 2017

Carrying goods to the house

Have to cross “Edanada” to reach their home

They welcome us

Father & Son with our main gift and grama niladhari

Gifts we gave

Disabled child’s home

Donating items to the differently able child

1.Medagampola Ulpatha / Pathaha

This was the only & main water source for the area now. Because all the wells dried & most of village people came for here. Villagers saying this “Ulpatha” had very old history from the Anuradhapura  Kingdom.

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2.Galatare Village & Galatare Weda Nivasa

Galatare village is very important because this village is the only place produce “Watapath” in Sri Lanka. This village situated 2 – 3 km’s away from Medagampola area. Unfortunately Saturday / Sunday & public holidays they don’t work. We went on Saturday & we were unable to see the “Watapath” production process. Next we went to see “Weda Nivasa” in the village. “Weda Mahathayas” daughter now live in this house. Her name is  “L.A Ranmenike” She is very friendly & innocent. We spent nearly one hour with her & she told us lot of old stories. Also she showed us many herbal pants in her garden. This house now under “Archeology Department” & till now they done nothing to protect this.

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“Weda Nivasa”

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.	“Ranmenike” Grandmother sat on “Pila”

“Magala”

Certificates of her Father

.	“Vee Bissa”

Built in 1838

Explaining details

“Kalu Komarika”

“Siri Wedi Bebila”

“Rathu Pichcha”

“Kolon”

“Kurahan Gala”

3.Medagampola Raja Maha Viharaya

After leaving from Galatara village  we went to Medagampola Raja Maha Viahraya.

According to villagers this Viharaya ancient one & very popular in this area. But today we can’t see any ruins in this temple premises.

Entrance

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Bodhiya

Stupaya

Inside the Budhu Medura

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4.Hakbelikanda Aranya

Next we went to see “Hakbelikanda Aranya”. This situated at Alawwa – Narrammala road. Aranya situated at few km’s away from main road. We have to pass nice forest area to reach aranya.When we traveling to aranya the climate is very cool in this dry season also. Foreign monks also came to this aranya for meditation purpose. We spent nearly one hour there & went to next destination.

Name board in the main road

Shrine room on the top

Road to the aranya

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Surrounding views

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.	Kuti situated in this area

5.Thalagama Raja Maha Viharaya

Our next destination was Thalagama Raja Maha Viharaya. This temple situated at Warakapola – Meerigama road & 5 km’s away from Warakapola town. “King Walagamba” hides in this area & later he built this temple. Unique feature of this temple was the only “Sanchi Stupaya” in Sri Lanka situated in here. There was 3 levels in this temple ,  Stupaya in the highest point, Bodhiya & Vihara Geya in the middle level , Awasa Geya & Dharma Shalawa in the lower level. There was more than 500 steps to reach top. Vihara Geya built in the large cave in the middle level Next to Vihara Geya another cave & little stupa built inside there. Few “Sellipi” situated near the “Sanchi Stupaya”. You can see the whole area from there..

.	Starting point to top

Old “Awasa Geya”

Steps to top

Reaching to second level

Bodhiya

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Vihara Geya in the large cave

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Small stupa inside the cave

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“Nivanmaga” art

Turning point to “Sanchi” stupaya

.	Steps to the mountain

Pond near the stupaya

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“Sellipiya”

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.	“Sanchi” stupaya”

Another “Sellipiya”

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Lena

Lena

view from the top