How bigwigs encroached Parakrama Samudraya to build a hotel and garden

A bird’s eye view of the controversial Sudu Araliya Hotel 

The questionable fence that separates the park and the tank

• Hotel Sudu Araliya is located in the low-lying area where water collects at the spill level of that area
•  In the past, there had been an attempt by the hotel to encroach upon the tank bund and claim the land
• It is learned that the hotel management has obtained a legal title for the reclaimed land attached to the Sudu Araliya hotel
• Archaeological researchers point out that Hotel Sudu Araliya is located within the boundaries of Parakrama Samudraya

By Prageeth Sampath Karunathilaka 

Dudley Sirisena purchased Hotel Sudu Araliya, which once belonged to Hotels Corporation around 1995. The hotel is situated near Theppan Ela, which flows into Parakrama Samudraya, within the Polonnaruwa Sanctuary. Parakrama Samudra was built by King Parakramabahu The First (Reign from 1153-1186) by combining several smaller tanks. This combined reservoir came to be known as the Samudraya. There is evidence to prove this marvel, as stone inscriptions installed at various points along the tank bund indicate, is the Parakrama Samudraya. According to these inscriptions, the water level at the time was maintained at 198 metres, with the water reaching right up to the tank bund.

When the reservoir is filled up to that level, the water reaches the tank bund. At present, the reservoir forms Parakrama Samudraya up to the bund. However, at present, the water level stands at 195 metres. Although the water level has dropped by 3 metres, if it were at its original level, all the houses and hotels in that area would be submerged by the waters of the Parakrama Samudraya. The road running from near Canal 1 to Kalahagala has been built along the bund of the reservoir, which stretches 12.8 kilometres in length and stands 9.45 metres high. The catchment area is 71.71 square kilometres. The water spread area is 2,539.50 hectares. The total water capacity of the reservoir is 1,340,700 million cubic metres. There are three main sluices, named Canal 1, Canal 2, and Canal 3. 

The spill of the reservoir contains 10 natural radial gates spanning about 59.30 metres in length. This indicates that if the reservoir had been confined within the bund where the road now lies, the buildings constructed later like the Hotel Sudu Araliya and the lawn area of Daham Sirisena’s house have been built inside the reservoir area. A natural high ground exists within the reservoir, where some government buildings have also been established. Hotel Sudu Araliya is located in the low-lying area where water collects at the spill level of that area, proving that the hotel was built inside the original reservoir boundaries. Comparing the land area available when Dudley Sirisena purchased Hotel Sudu Araliya, with what remains today, clearly shows how much of the reservoir has been reclaimed over time.

According to stone inscriptions available, Parakrama Samudraya was created by combining several tanks such as Thopa Wewa, Katu Wewa, and Dumbutulu Wewa. Even today, these tanks retain their original names and are separated by two bunds. Hotel Sudu Araliya is located on one of these bunds. According to the stone inscriptions, this bund once connected parallel to the site where Hotel Sudu Araliya now stands.

Attempts made to encroach

An official from the Archaeological Department said that, in the past, there had been an attempt by the hotel to encroach upon the tank bund to claim the land. The Archaeological Department has informed the hotel management about this and instructed them to restore the bund, which was originally built during King Parakramabahu’s time. After the water level receded around 2013, the soil was removed, and the bund was restored. The official confirmed that the bund was later connected to the hotel and that the hotel’s lawn was constructed over it. The bund had been destroyed in 2011, and by 2013, steps were taken to refill it and link it to the hotel, according to him.

The official also pointed out that digging soil from the reservoir itself in 2013 to level the hotel land was a wrongful act. This was after the Archaeological Department informed the hotel management to restore the bund. The bund was restored parallel to the hotel grounds, and the construction of the hotel proceeded. There are many stone inscriptions along the bund, with about eight still visible. These inscriptions clearly state that the reservoir was built by King Parakramabahu the Great.

The water level inside the tank bund was recorded as 198 metres, and the tank was once filled to this level. This means that all the buildings within the tank bund were actually constructed inside the original tank area. 

Archaeological researcher Indika Manawadu pointed out that, for this reason, Hotel Sudu Araliya is located within the boundaries of Parakrama Samudraya. He also provided a clarification about the reservoir sluices. Accordingly, the old sluice is situated above the present water level. He explained that the sluice gates only begin to release water when the tank is filled to 198 metres. Therefore, he explained that the lands belonging to the Parakrama Samudraya are those that become submerged when the water level reaches 198 metres. 

At present, after filling the reservoir with water to a depth of about 30 feet, only seven feet of water is released through the old sluice. About 20 feet of water is not released through the sluices and remains in the reservoir.

If the water had been at the current level, it would not have been possible to supply water to the royal palace in Polonnaruwa. This reservoir has several canals without sluices. Manawadu pointed out that inscriptions state that, after the water reached the 198-metre level, it naturally flowed through these canals to the royal palace and the city. He also said that archaeological evidence confirms that about 3 feet of water was carried in this manner. 

At present, the reservoir is filled to 195 metres—three metres less than its original capacity. Therefore, although water reaches near the sluices, those canals are not active.  During the reign of King Parakramabahu, these canals carried water almost daily. Evidence confirms that they were functional at that time.

Another factor that supports this claim is the old jetty located within the reservoir. Notably, this jetty is situated within the Hotel Sudu Araliya grounds. On the opposite side of the hotel’s main entrance, there is a pond that remains dry, but was built long ago. Within this pond lies the old jetty constructed during King Parakramabahu’s time. It was originally built there because the area served as a transportation hub, confirming that when the water level reached 198 metres, the water level extended up to this point. The road runs along the top of the tank bund a few metres beyond the jetty. This makes it clear that Hotel Sudu Araliya lies within the boundaries of Parakrama Samudraya. Recently, a public opinion has emerged across the country that if the reservoir was filled to 198 metres, the hotel would be submerged, and that is why it is currently filled only to 195 meters. Critics believe the authorities should carefully examine this matter.

Stone pillars of the old jetty

The stone pillars of the old jetty are still visible. Thus, Hotel Sudu Araliya has been built within the reservoir. A jetty is constructed to facilitate transport from the land across the reservoir. The swimming pool and garden of Hotel Sudu Araliya are located near this jetty, further proving that the hotel was built within the reservoir. In addition, seats have been attractively arranged in this park to allow visitors to enjoy the beautiful views of the reservoir. The observations of this writer, who was at the site, confirmed that it is entirely built on land reclaimed from the reservoir. Several of the largest plants that naturally grow in a reservoir can also be seen within this park. 

A visit to the hotel by this scribe further confirmed this fact. This writer saw firsthand that Hotel Sudu Araliya stands on the land reclaimed from the reservoir. Some years ago, the engineer in charge of Parakrama Samudraya had identified the exact boundaries of the reservoir based on its full capacity of 198 metres and placed boundary stones accordingly. These stones remain visible today, proving that both Hotel Sudu Araliya and Daham Sirisena’s house lie within the original reservoir area.

Accordingly, it is evident that both Hotel Sudu Araliya and the land on which Daham Sirisena’s house stands are situated within Parakrama Samudra. Minister K.D. Lalkantha once stated that the authorities must inform the public whether Hotel Sudu Araliya, Daham Sirisena’s residence, and other similar establishments will be removed or not. The Daily Mirror investigations confirm without a doubt that Hotel Sudu Araliya is located inside Parakrama Samudraya. However, the Daily Mirror learns that the hotel management has obtained a legal title for the reclaimed land attached to the hotel and we will not hesitate to disclose further information in the future.

“WE HAVE REQUESTED A SURVEY FROM THE SURVEY DEPARTMENT”- IRRIGATION ENGINEER WHO OVERSEES PARAKRAMA SAMUDRAYA

The Daily Mirror inquired from Irrigation Engineer N. Krishna Ruben, who oversees Parakrama Samudraya, regarding this matter. This what he had to say: “Currently, the reservoir is filled to 195 metres. During King Parakramabahu’s reign, it was filled to 198 metres. The triangular lawn of Hotel Sudu Araliya and the lawn of Daham Sirisena’s house have been reclaimed from the reservoir. Hotel Sudu Araliya was originally built by the government and later acquired by Dudley Sirisena at an auction. A survey is needed to determine whether the hotel has obtained more land than what was allocated to the Tourism Board through the Irrigation Department. We have requested a survey from the Survey Department, and only after receiving the results can we make a final decision. If excess land has been taken, we will pursue legal action. I am not aware of any boundary stones laid by the former engineer or whether the hotel grounds were prepared by cutting soil from the reservoir. A proper decision should be made after accurate surveys are carried out by the Survey Department. But at first glance, it is clear that both the hotel’s triangular lawn and Daham Sirisena’s lawn are on land reclaimed from Parakrama Samudra.”

DIRECTOR LAND RESOURCES DIVISION REFUSES TO SPEAK

The Daily Mirror also contacted Director General of the Sri Lanka Tourism Board, Upali Ratnayake, to obtain information regarding this matter. This writer inquired about the size of the hotel land and whether additional land had been occupied. However, Ratnayake stated that he could not provide such information and advised this scribe to speak with Dilesh, Director of the Land Resources Division of the Sri Lanka Tourism Board. Accordingly, when this newspaper spoke to Dilesh, he said that he had assumed duties recently and not to seek information about this from him, and to ask Mr. Upali Ratnayake about it, as the latter knows everything about the issue. He said not to ask him about this matter and inconvenience him. When this scribe spoke to Ratnayake again, he said, “Don’t try to set us up against each other. He is trying to pick a fight with me. I don’t know anything about this matter,” and he disconnected the call.

DUDLEY SIRISENA TELLS TO CONTACT IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT

The Daily Mirror also inquired about this matter from Dudley Sirisena, owner of Hotel Sudu Araliya. He said that the Daily Mirror should ask the Irrigation Department about it, that he would not comment on it. He said that this newspaper should consider the current situation.

DUDLEY SIRISENA PLEDGES TO REMOVE UNAUTHORISED SECTION OF SUDU ARALIYA HOTEL

Business magnate Dudley Sirisena announced that he will demolish the portion of his Sudu Araliya Hotel identified as an unauthorised construction. Addressing an event in Hingurakgoda, Sirisena said he will comply with the law by personally removing the section, while hotel operations and bookings would continue till May. Earlier in July, Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Minister K.D. Lal Kantha rejected claims that the hotel had been excluded from the government’s programme to remove unauthorised structures along irrigation tank reservations.

The pix shows Sudu Araliya hotel reclaimed land from tank and made the park

According to stone inscriptions available, Parakrama Samudraya was created by combining several tanks such as Thopa Wewa, Katu Wewa, and Dumbutulu Wewa