Madunagala Hot Water Springs lie amoung vast paddyfields between Sooriyawewa and Ridiyagama, Today this hot water well is one of the most popular destinations for the pilgrims to the South. The spring was first recorded by Leonard Woolf, Assistant Government Agent of Hambanthota (1908-11) in his diaries recording the haphazard journey through wild animal infested jungles and boat rides to reach the hot spring where he had taken sample to be analysed.

The spring was rediscovered again in early 1960’s with the Uda Walawe development project when the areas coming under the Walawe Basin was turned in to vast agricultural area. Embilipitiya was made the primary town of the project where number of trunk roads from main towns in surrounding Embilipitiya was terminated. Sooriyawewa, about 15 km east of Embilipitiya became the central hub of the left bank region of the Uda Walawe reservoir.

In 1970’s number of elephant calf deaths by falling in to the well were reported during the dry seasons. With most water sources drying up during the dry season, baby elephants who tried to quest their thirst from the Hot Spring had fallen in to the well. With the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka making representations to the Mahaweli Authority two wells with walls were built surrounding the hot springs for males and females in the 1980’s. These two wells were the only development at this spring until early 2000’s and to access it you had to travel over gravel roads and cross a paddy fields. Wild elephants was a frequent sight after dark.

In 2000’s this spring was identified to be developed in to a major tourist attraction. Today four wells have been built surrounding the main spring with varying degrees of temperature. The area is now landscaped and separate changing rooms and toilets for two sexes also has been built. A play area, a mini zoo and a aquarium has also been built for the children. To enter the area, Rs 60 is charged from a local adult and Rs 300 from a foreigner.

Unfortunately the site has been over publicized and you will find 10-15 bus loads of pilgrims during long holidays taking away the mystique of the location found before the turn of the century.