This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's
quality standards. (November 2023) |
Eheliyagoda
ඇහැලියගොඩ | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 6°50′55″N 80°15′36″E / 6.8486°N 80.2600°E | |
Country | Sri Lanka |
Province | Sabaragamuwa |
District | Ratnapura |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time) |
Sri Lanka Post | 70600 |
Area code | 045 |
Eheliyagoda is a town in Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. It is located approximately 72 km (45 mi) east of Colombo.
The town is the centre of traditional gemstone mining [1] [2] and rubber plantations. [3] Ekanite, a rare radioactive gemstone, was first discovered in Eheliyagoda in 1953 by F. L. D. Ekanayake. [4] [5]
In 2018 Eheliyagoda was identified as a priority town, to be developed under the Small and Medium Town Development Programme being undertaken by the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development. Proposed improvements under the programme include a public fair and play grounds. [6]
Eheliyagoda was one of the railway stations on the Kelani Valley line, when the narrow gauge railway line between Avissawella to Opanayake via Ratnapura was opened in 1919. [7] It was closed in 1976 when the branch line between Avissawella and Opanayake was shut down.[ citation needed]
The town straddles the A4 (Colombo-Batticaloa) Highway.
The main schools in Eheliyagoda are:
The main temples in the town are: