During the 15th Century King Vira Parakramabahu VIII, Negombo lagoon served as the main seaport for trading in cinnamon and other commodities. It was this king, in keeping with superior economic considerations, to facilitate access and transport, who began constructing the canal. It is presently called the Dutch canal and links Kelani river with the main sea port of Negombo lagoon to the east of Muturajawela.

This led to a disaster in that the Muturajawela paddy fields were subject to saline intrusion and triggered the end of paddy cultivation in the once fertile paddy fields. In the process sparking a rebellion against the King, which he could hardly suppress. During the Portuguese era that followed Negambo lagoon continued to be the main sea port for maritime trading.

In the Dutch period that followed, attempts were made to rehabilitate Muturajawela as a producer of paddy and develop Colombo as a sea port. The Ja-ela was constructed to deliver fresh water from Attanagalu oya to flush out the salt from the soil. These attempts no doubt led to their departure as expected results never came on top of military reverses at the hands of the British. The British who followed the Dutch rule also pursued the Muturajawela bogey and undertook the rehabilitation of the swamp, as it could provide food for the subjects besides saving foreign exchange.

Garvin Hamilton, British Agent of Revenue and Commerce in 1802 started a new canal to the east of the earlier cut canal by Sinhalese king and the Dutch. This canal was called Hamilton canal and meant to link the Dutch canal by a series of parallel canals designed to drain the Muturajawela. But what happened was the opposite as the high tide brought salinity not only from Negambo lagoon but also Kelani river. To cash in this privilege, a few entrepreneurs started making salt and the government had to prosecute villages who started the salt business. Hamilton canal then earned the epithet of "Hamiltons Folly" and the local name Moda Ela or Fool?s canal.

Hamilton Dutch Canal Related references