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Eheliyagoda is a town in Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. It is located approximately 72 km (45 mi) east of Colombo.

Eheliyagoda ඇහැලියගොඩ
Town
Eheliyagoda
Coordinates: 6.8486°N 80.2600°E / 6.8486; 80.2600
Country	Sri Lanka
Province	Sabaragamuwa
District	Ratnapura
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time)
Sri Lanka Post	70600
Area code(s)	045

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]

Transport

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.

Educational

The main schools in Eheliyagoda are:

• Eheliyagoda National College (Est. 1904)[8]
• Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Eheliyagoda (Est. 1926)

Religion

The main temples in the town are:

• Pushparama Purana Viharaya
• Madarasinharama Temple
• Mahara Purana Viharaya
• Sri Nagarukkarama Maha Viharaya
• Ambanoluwa Rajamaha Viharaya

References

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