Commonly known as the Colombo-Kandy Road, the A 1 was the first modern highway to be built on the island. Since the Kadugannawa area on the Colombo-Kandy main road was identified to be at risk of landslides, there has been a lot of talk about it in recent days. However, many people, including local and foreign tourists, prefer to take a bus tour on the hilly Colombo-Kandy Main Road.
Since there was only a pathway from Kandy to Colombo during the Kandyan Kingdom, public officials and those who wanted to travel from Kandy to Colombo or vice versa, had to use either horses or palanquins. The road from Avissawella- Ruwanwella to the Maoya Valley and from there to Kandy via Balana was longer and more difficult. As a result, the British Government wanted to build a cart road to Kandy, so that commercial crops such as coffee and tea could be easily transported to the port of Colombo.
British
Construction work on the Colombo-Kandy Road, which goes down in history as the first highway from Colombo to be built by the British rulers, began around 1820. During the rebellion of 1818 the lack of an easy access to Kandy was severely felt by the British rulers and they therefore decided to build a road between Colombo and Kandy, which, as they felt, would be useful in many ways. Construction of the road began under the guidance of Sir Wilmot Horton, then British Governor to Ceylon.
The entire construction of the road was overseen by Captain Francis William Dawson. As the first phase of the road from Colombo to Kandy, the section between Colombo and Ambepussa was constructed. The construction of the second phase from Ambepussa to Kadugannawa had to be carried out amid great challenges. The 11-mile stretch from Warakapola to Ambanpitiya was constructed under the supervision of Major Thomas Skinner. Major Skinner, a young engineer at the time who took part in the construction of the section, describes the difficult and adventurous experiences he had there in his book ‘Fifty Years in Ceylon’.
In the presence of many wild animals such as elephants and leopards and in the midst of obstacles, such as streams, rivers, and gorges, construction of the road was carried out with untrained labourers. Epidemics, such as malaria, are said to have hampered road works.
According to historical sources, the Malaria epidemic, which was on the rise at that time, had killed domestic workers as well as British officers. The most difficult part of the construction of the Colombo-Kandy Road was the construction of the road across the Kadugannawa area.
They had to remove the rocks and build a road through the forest through the steep slope, which was often interrupted by heavy rains.
According to reports, Captain Dawson has continued to work day and night to build the road. As the Kandy Road neared Kadugannawa, Captain Dawson had fallen ill with a fever and he was later taken to Colombo for treatment. However, after being treated for a few days, he died of the fever. Captain Dawson died on March 28, 1829 in Colombo.
Major Skinner has noted Dawson’s death: “In 1829 a dear friend of mine died, and at the same time the country lost the service of a valuable officer.
It was Captain W. Dawson, commanding officer of the Royal Corps of Engineers. He died in my arms. The whole island mourned for him. He was very fond of anyone he knew. Irrespective of Dawson’s junior status, he was chosen to be the Commanding Officer of the Royal Corps of Engineers. That is why a monument was erected to commemorate him on the top of the Kadugannawa Fort Road, a great achievement of his efficiency, “
Memory
In memory of Captain Dawson, the Dawson Tower was erected at Kadugannawa in the Kadugannawa Pass. The highest point on the Kadugannawa road is near Dawson Tower. Nearby is the town of Kadugannawa. Built to commemorate Captain Dawson, the tower is still a popular landmark. Due to Dawson’s death, work on the Colombo-Kandy Road was completed under the leadership of Major Skinner.
The Colombo-Kandy Road had many changes and a section of it in the Kadugannawa area has been closed now.
The road, which begins at Colombo Fort, passes through Peliyagoda, Kelaniya, Kiribathgoda, Mahara, Kadawatha, Kirillawala, Imbulgoda, Balummahara, Miriswaththa, Yakkala, Weediyawaththa, Thihariya, Nittambuwa, Pasyala, Wewaldeniya, Danovita, Warakapola, and Ambepussa, Tholangamuwa, Udukumbura, Nelundeniya, Yattogoda, Galigamuwa, Ambanpitiya, Ranwala, Kegalle, Meepitiya, Karandupana, Molagoda, Uthuwankanda, Anwarama, Mawanella, Beligammana, Hingula, Kadugannawa, Pilimathalawa, Kiribathkumbura, and Peradeniya to reach Kandy.
Due to a recent landslide threat, the Colombo-Kandy Main Road was closed in the Kadugannawa area and a number of institutions including the University of Peradeniya conducted various research on the landslide risk. The local administration also took steps to remove unauthorised shops on both sides of the road in the area. However, the road has now been reopened.