The name ‘Hambantota’ itself was derived from the two Sinhala words ‘Hamban’, which describes a type of sailing craft, and ‘Thota’, which means the ‘port’. So Hambantota really was the port for Hambans. The town associated with this port, as well as the administrative region around it eventually became to be also known by this name. A ‘Hamban’ was a particular variety of sailing craft built by joi
ning two boats together. This type of craft was commonly used for ocean navigation and was quite popular among the Chinese, Malays and Moors who inhabited the Asian region. The Sinhala word ‘Hamban’ itself is believed to have come from the Chinese word ‘Sampan’, also a sailing craft, although there is no historical evidence to confirm this. In ancient times a port known as ‘Godawaya’ was located on the Southeast coast of Sri Lanka, situated at the mouth of the ‘Wananadi’ river (The Walawe). Historical evidence suggests that it served as the principal port in the area throughout ancient Sri Lankan history and certainly up to and during the 2nd Century A.D. According to some oral traditions among the current residents of this region; King Gajabahu, who invaded the ‘Chola’ kingdom and brought back the Sinhalese who had been imprisoned by Cholan invaders, is supposed to have landed at this port on his return to the Island and, since the vessels used by him to this voyage were known as ‘Hamban’, this port was thereafter known as ‘Hambanthota’. However, once again, there is no historical evidence to prove this story. This port which was constructed on a strip of land extending seawards afforded protection from the raging waves and currents of the sea, was very spacious and was well known among most sailors who plied the ocean routes at that time. Settlements soon began to build up around the port of Hambantota after it had established itself as an important port. The region of Hambantota was the home of a great civilisation in Sri Lanka’s history it formed part of the kingdom of Ruhana. However, detailed information regarding the history of this time is available only after the arrival of Vijaya, the first recorded King of Sri Lanka, onto the Island, which took place in 543 B.C. It was from this time onwards that the Aryans, who were the founders of the Singhala race, began to establish settlements on the Northern plain as well as in this region.
‘Ruhana’ established itself as a kingdom only after Prince Mahanaga, who was a brother of Devananpiyatissa, laid the foundation for the progress of this region by building a network of irrigation projects. He made use of Kirindi Oya which flowed
