Dahamana Maha Vidyalaya: How It All Began……
At a time when the village lacked a school to serve the needs of the children, the village leaders led by Rev. Panane Wimalawansa thero, gave leadership to a move to accomplish this task.
Overcoming many difficulties the initiative was taken to build a school in Dahamana -a few miles from Balangoda town- on a plot of land donated by W.A. Punchi Mahathmaya.
When the school officially commenced on February 24, 1949 it only had a cadjan hut, but today a good mix of old and modern buildings blend together to add glamour and splendour to the School.
In its 57th year of function the school now serves not only the children of Dahamana but also those from neighbouring villages.
Dahamana gains some historical significance by virtue of the fact that it belongs to the region where the world famous primitive ‘Balangoda Man’, better known as ‘Balangoda Manawaya’ was discovered. Mahawalathnna plateau and thin village is situated in delightful are.
Some say that thousand monks were ordained at one and the same time thus giving the village its name ‘Damahana’.
There are two ways to approach the village. One is via the Ratnapura-Balangoda-Kirimelithnna route. The other is through Ratnapura-Pallebcdda and Weligcpala.
Traveling through the village, one cannot fail to notice the beautiful paddy field right in the heart of the village.
Like the early bird that gets the worm, if lucky enough, you will see the farmers in their span cloth and mammorty on shoulders setting off to their fields.
Overcoming all the difficulties, A chief of this village W. A. Punchimahaththaya contributed a plot of land to build a school.
Today a lot of splendid buildings at this school but on February 24 in 1949 it was cemmeced in a temporary building under a cadjan roof. It was born like that but at present it is not only for Damahana pupils but also it is useful to the children of the suburb villages and now it is passing its 57th year.
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