The Dumbara graphite mine

The Dumbara graphite mine is located in the Gampiyasa named Dumbara on the Ayagama road which turns from the Ella junction of the Panadura-Ingiriya road. Although today it is covered by a swamp, the Dumbara graphite mine was a large working area in this country during the time of the whites. Even though this great mine has closed down with the passage of time, the mines created by the Dumbara graphite mine are a literature as well as a folk culture built in the Dumbara area. Also, the earth was dug, and the graphite wells, which were created for the mining of graphite, are still buried in the jungle today. Let's record another part of a trip to see the cave complex, walk inside it and experience the mining.

Dumbara Graphite Museum, which has an immense history
After entering the Dona mouth of Midpola, you will see a very clear environment without trees and weeds. That is, only a stone hole. Therefore, after entering the cave, you will not feel as nervous as you see from outside the mouth of the cave. The mining cave, dug in a circular manner, is high enough for a person to stand without difficulty. Its bottom is not rough. But the cave is not so straight as a straight line. Even if you travel towards the west, from the starting point, there is a winding cave.
Dumbara Graphite Museum, which has an immense history
In this cave, we started walking one behind the other, following the guide ``Durangala Premakumara.'' Premakumara led the way with his powerful flashlight, and another fellow traveler Suresh from Dumbara village followed behind the group with a flashlight to help us. We walked through the darkness with our heads slightly bowed because the rock face is so high that it is impossible to hit our heads. While walking like this for a few minutes, we saw mining wells as well as small and narrow holes spread on both sides where graphite was dug. Premakumara and Suresh did not forget to stop our journey at such places and give details about those places. That is, these places are places where there were graphite deposits. It seemed that the graphite in all those places had been mined and collected. We had to put up quite a fight here with flashlights to rescue even one piece of graphite. Harshan, Ravi and I worked really hard to take those memories home. In the end Suresh brother helped us to find only a few small pieces of graphite.
Dumbara Graphite Museum, which has an immense history
Somehow, we were able to walk about 300 meters inside Medapola Dona. Premakumara lit the flashlight in his hand and tried hard to show us the bottom of several dark mine shafts. About 250 meters from the mouth of the cave there is a place called Bangla Pura. It was Premakumara who told us that several other donas start from the bottom of that pit. He had gone down that pit and seen all Dona Marga firsthand when he had come to record the TV program earlier. Although we have no chance to go down into the bungalow pit, (as there is no ladder) we struggle to measure the depth of the mine shafts by kneeling and crawling.

It is true, as the mining poet said, it is now clear to us that he went down thirty shafts (about 150 feet) into this mine and dug up the granite. After descending, thirty snakes pierced the black rock....that is not an exaggeration story that we experienced in Medopola Donawa. Moreover, it is clear that the dirty water bibi who used to eat rice in the pits under the limestone and eat rice in the rice paddies under the limestone may have tied her life in this dark cave. Although we were unable to go, the teacher of Ratmalgoda School said that such a water pit full of dirty water can be found about 800 meters from this Dona. He had crawled to the place a few days earlier to get footage for his show.

#krsuccess #geekpranee #graphite #dumbara #adventure #criminal #srilanka