Divisional Secretariat - Imbulpe

 The Commencement of Imbulpe Divisional Secretariat

Reorganization of the District Administration Based on the letter ABK/B/67/58 (33) dated 13.10.1991 sent to the Government Agent of Ratnapura under the signature of the Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, Local Government and Provincial Councils under the establishment of new Divisional Revenue Officers work has begun. On a proposal made by Hon. Mallika Ratwatte, MP of Balangoda, the construction of office buildings has commenced after the government took over two acres of land from the 50 year old tea plantation belonging to Mr.S.M.P.Kadar, Governor of Central Textiles, Kahawatta. However, due to the failure to construct new office buildings on the due date, arrangements have been made to maintain Imbulpe Divisional Secretariat from 01.07.1971. The Regional Revenue Officer of this office was the Mrs.P.M.P.Jayawardene. The new building was taken over on 19.09.1974 and the office was opened on 21.05.1927. The gazette notification was published in the Gazette No. 165 of 23 May 1975.

The History of Imbulpe Divisional Secretariat

Imbulpe Divisional Secretariat has a historical background that stretches back to the era of Rama Ravana. When entering Imbulpe division from Balangoda, a mountain range with a pair of mountains of similar height can be seen from the north. It is said that Rama placed his two feet on the peaks of the Detanagala mountains, which look like a pair of breasts of a woman lying upside down, drew his bow and sent a Rama shara to kill Ravana, which broke a stone in the Pettigala mountain range (Ravana kapolla) and hit a limestone in Hunuwala field and fell in Godakawela in Bibilegama field. It is the belief of the Sinhalese that arrow rests in a habarala tree in the place and that gold arrow is worshiped for cutting the water of the Saman Dewalaya. It is believed that the inexhaustible water bubble at Bibilegama paddy field is the place where he fell.

The Boltumbe Saman dewalaya, located at the foot of Detanagala, has a model of King Ravana's flower chariot, which is said to cause incessant rain if it comes out. There is a record of the appearance of this car during the English rule.

In this division is a Grama niladhari division named Ravanakanda. One of the illusions of this domain is that there was a cave with a stone door in the rock called Doragala in the mountain range and it was lit by a lamp on some days. A village woman saw the light of that cave while sweeping. It is also mentioned in Jana Vahere that when he showed his child the "Ilapatha" in his hand towards the mountain, the stone door was closed.

There are many stories about the Ravana era related to this area and Maha Eliya forest is considered to be the area where Sita was kept. Sita Guava, Sita Pepper and Willunu, which grow in the area, have stories associated with Sita.

A place where the Buddha traveled from Mahiyangana to the middle of the country to establish Siripa is located in the domain of Budhunwela Grama Niladhari in this division. The beautiful rock in a field in this domain is considered to be the resting place of Buddha.

It is said that when the Buddha went to Detanagala to establish Siripa, Mara Divya's son had killed a Garadi on the rock on the top of that hill, and therefore the place was defiled, so the Buddha returned. The waterfall flowing from that mountain range is now known as Garadi Falls.

It is said that Prince Dutugemunu stayed at Seelagama Agalagama on his way to Kothmalaya. It is said that the weapons needed by King Dutugemunu's army were produced by the Acharis who lived in Hatanpola village belonging to Thotapalla domain of this division.

Also, King Saddhatissa's son Vatta Gamini Abhaya received necessary support for battles from Hatanpola area and there are many stone temples in this division where the king is believed to have stayed.

It was done by King Kumarasingha who ruled it during the reign of King Sitawaka Rajasingha. It was done by King Kumarasingha. There were constant battles between King Kumarasingha and King Sitawaka Rajasingha and the borders of these two kings were separated by Denagama Kingdom and Medagama Kingdom. King Rajasingha of Sitawaka also led battles to conquer Medagama kingdom. King Kumarasingha led his army through the kingdom of Medagama and led the battles by tying a bundle to a jackfruit tree (jacket ruppe) near Medagama city and surrendering to God Kataragama. The battle ended with a peace treaty between the two kings at Hunuwala near Perus Canal. The Peras rings in the hands of the two kings were thrown into a stream between them and the battle was ended by binding the territory belonging to Denagam kingdom to King Sitawaka and the territory belonging to Medagama kingdom to King Kumarasingha. The Peras ring canal is now also known as the Peras canal.

King Kumarasingha, who returned after finishing the battles, built a temple for Kataragama deities in the background of the area around the jackfruit tree where he tied the offerings, and Uggal Aluthnuwara established the small Kataragam temple and turned it into “Aluthnuwara” in Medagam. It is said that Ashtaphalaruga Bodhi located in Medagam was also near this sacred ground. This temple is located in Aluthnuwara Grama Niladhari division.

The Dutch power in Ceylon, which was subjected to foreign invasions, was also widespread in this area. The Catholic church in Kanathirianwela Grama Niladhari Division is an ancient religious place that claims to have been affected by that influence.

Since the facilities for transportation were very less in this area, several short roads have passed through this division. A road from Kurunegala to Nuwara Eliya Samimala through the Central Hills also existed through the ridges of the Central Hills of this division. It is said that there was also a short way to climb Siripa.

During the British rule, a white officer went to a stone cave in Siripa site to get shooting salt called Nambu Road, and the road that was paved with rocks on both sides and spread over the Nambu Sand can be seen with recognizable marks in the forest today.

There are several temples belonging to Kandy era. The temple along with Elugala temple and Aluthnuwara temple in Kanathirianwala division is Tampita Vihara, while other temples are popular among the people like Delgahathanna temple, Maddegama temple, Karagastalawa temple and Imbulpe temple