Tanks like Nuwarawewa reservoir are a great destination to discover the history of Sri lanka. Both Local and Foreign travelers visit the place to enjoy and have fun. Nuwara wewa is the man made a reservoir out of the 3 main reservoirs in Anuradhapura. .Basawakkulama (Abhaya wewa) and the Tissa wewa is the other 2 reservoirs in Anuradhapura. Nuwara wewa is not positioned in Kandy as its name conveys. It has existed off the right bank of the malwathu Oya. Nuwara wewa is a great example to elaborate the irrigation technology of ancient Sri lanka. Local and international Tourists come to see Nuwara wewa. It was built by King Valagamba in other names King Vattagamini Abhaya in the 1st century.
Archeologists say that it belongs to the 1st century, yet it has been proved the bricks used to make Abhayagirir dagoba and Nuwara wewa are similar in size.
Thus Sri Lanka was invaded by Chola invaders from south India several times. The brunt of the reservoir is about3 miles in long while it is 37 feet in height. However, most of the rocks which were used to build this dam were removed to construct a road bridge across the Malwatu Oya. Wherefore a canal was designed to bring water to Nuwara wewa. The canal was wide in 40 feet. The water depth was about 4 feet and 150 feet from the dam. Referring to ‘Ancient Ceylon’ by H.Parker records that the size of the bricks which were used to build the wewa is quite similar to the Abhayagiri Stupa. In addition, he confides that the tank has been reconstructed and maintained around the 3rd and 5th centuries.
In ancient times Cobras and sneaks were concerned as the guardians of water. In addition, a sculptured Naga gala , found near the Sorowwa or the sluice. Once R.L Brohier, surveyor, and a traveler stated that this wasn’t Tissa wewa, in fact, this is Jaya Vapi built by King pandukabhaya. Even British also rebuilt the Tissa wewa in 1886.