The chief river of Ceylon, the modern Maháveliganga. Viewed from the city of Anurádhapura, the right bank was called páragangá and the left oragangá. The river was of great strategic importance, and is mentioned in various accounts of campaigns between opposing armies. It was always regarded as the boundary between North Ceylon, with Anurádhapura (and later, Pulatthipura) as the centre, and the South east province of Rohana.
Various fords on this river are mentioned in the books, the chief among these being Kacchakatittha, Ganthambatittha, Mahárukkhatittha, Málágámatittha, Yakkhasúkaratittha, Sarogámatittha, Sahassatittha and Suvannatthambhatittha. There were evidently other fords at the bends of the river with no particular names (e.g., Cv.lxxii.285).
The kings of Ceylon constructed various canals branching off from the river to help in their irrigation schemes. One such was the Pabbatanta Canal, built by Mahásena (Mhv.xxxvii.50); while the Aciravatí, the Gomatí, and the Malápaharani were constructed by Parakkamabáhu I. (Cv.lxxix.51f). Dhátusena irrigated the surrounding fields by means of damming up the river (Cv.xxxviii.12), as did Sena II. by the construction of the Manimekhala dam (Cv.li.72). In the time of Parakkamabáhu II. and, later, of Vijayabáhu IV., great ordination ceremonies were held on the river at Sahassatittha (Cv.lxxxvii.72; lxxxix.70f), and again at Ganthambatittha in the time of Vimaladhammasúriya I. Cv.xciv.17; also Vimaladhammasúriya II. (Cv.xcvii.12).
The river rises in Samantakúta (Cv.c.82). The Mahánágavana of the Yakkhas, where, later, was erected the Mahiyangathúpa, was on the right bank of the river. Cv.lxxxix.70; Mhv.Trs., p.3.