In the past, travelling to Ampara was not an easy journey. Around 1949, the route to Ampara was much longer and more difficult than it is today. At that time, a person travelling from the southern part of the country had to go through Monaragala and Siyambalanduwa, reach Pottuvil, and then continue through Thirukkovil and Karaitivu to arrive in Ampara.
The roads that exist today, such as the route from Siyambalanduwa to Ampara through Damana, were not available during that period. The development of Ampara, Inginiyagala, and the surrounding areas began after Sri Lanka's first Prime Minister, D. S. Senanayake, launched the Gal Oya Development Project on 28 August 1949.
With the construction of the Senanayake Samudraya at Inginiyagala, built entirely using local funds, the region began to change rapidly. Industries, roads, electricity, and thousands of acres of paddy lands were developed. People from different parts of Sri Lanka were settled in the Gal Oya area, creating a major transformation in the region. As a result of this development, the road from Siyambalanduwa to Ampara through Damana, as well as the road from Wadinagala to Inginiyagala, were later constructed.
Because of these developments, travelling to Ampara today is much easier. Unlike in the past, people no longer need to travel in a long circle to reach the area.
Today, we are getting ready to travel through this beautiful part of Ampara. For this journey, we planned to use three motorcycles. Yasas, Sameera, Lahiru, and Leen also joined the trip. Since all of us met at Avissawella, we can say that our journey began from there.
We travelled from Avissawella through Ratnapura and Thanamalwila and reached Monaragala after 10.00 a.m. After riding around the Monaragala mountain range and continuing towards Siyambalanduwa, another hour had passed. From Siyambalanduwa, the road straight ahead leads to Pottuvil, but we turned left with the intention of travelling towards Ampara.
After riding about 30 kilometres from Siyambalanduwa through Damana, we reached Wadinagala. A little further after passing Wadinagala, we noticed a large tank on the left side of the road. At the junction ahead, we turned left to go towards the tank. After travelling about 500 metres, we reached the tank bund.
Only after reaching the tank did we realise that this was Ekgal Oya.
Ekgal Oya Reservoir is located to the east of Senanayake Samudraya, which was built across the Gal Oya. When we stood on the bund and looked ahead, the first thing we saw was a mountain range rising beyond the upper side of the tank. This was the Nilgala-Rathugala mountain range. The streams that begin from this mountain range help feed the Senanayake Samudraya.
The Nilgala mountain range adds a special beauty to Ekgal Oya. During these days, Ekgal Oya was full of birdlife. Although we had arrived there unexpectedly, we were lucky enough to see a large number of migratory birds moving across the tank.
While we were watching the scenery, a fish eagle suddenly swooped down from above, caught a fish from the water, and disappeared among the trees. It was a beautiful and unforgettable sight.
At this time of the year, Ekgal Oya is an ideal place for bird photography. Anyone interested in photographing birds would find this place very rewarding. If you are travelling through an unfamiliar area and notice a tank beside the road, it is always worth stopping for a while. Such unexpected stops can sometimes give you the best travel experiences.
Ekgal Oya is fed by streams that flow down from the surrounding mountain ranges. Although it is not a very large reservoir, it has a beauty of its own. The reservoir has a catchment area of about 23,500 acre-feet. Most of its water is supplied for sugarcane cultivation, while it also provides water for around 647 hectares of paddy cultivation and about 170 hectares of other cultivation.
Located within a dry mixed evergreen forest, Ekgal Oya is a peaceful and scenic place that deserves more attention. If you ever travel to the Ampara area, make sure to stop by Ekgal Oya and experience its quiet beauty for yourself.