Mabodale

Mabodale is a village in Gampaha District of Sri Lanka, with lush green surroundings. It is situated approximately 12 km away from the City of Gampaha, 15 km from the City of Negombo and also in close proximity to suburban areas of Divulapitiya, Minuwangoda and Veyangoda. Mabodale is about 20 square km in extent and has a population of approx. "5000". Sinhalese is the mother tongue of the villagers but English is understood by many. Paddy and betel cultivation had been the main source of income for many families for decades. However with the rapid industrialization in Sri Lanka, the younger generation has moved to other options like working in nearby industrial zones or in the capital Colombo as executives or office staff.

Climate

Mabodale belongs to the wet zone of Sri Lanka where ample amount of rain is received throughout the year. The average temperature is 30 degrees Celsius during day time and high humidity is sometimes experienced.

Places of interest

The main showpiece of Mabodale is its water reservoir called "Mabodale Weva". The catchment area is mainly large private lands with coconut cultivation. The “Weva” has been a popular spend-the-day place for many locals living in and around Mabodale. The beautiful stretches of paddy cultivation add glamor to the village. Mabodale has four main Buddhist temples where Buddhist monks are living. The villagers offer arms to Buddhist monks as a daily routine. Almost all of the dwellers of this village are Sinhalese Buddhists. Many religious programs are being conducted at these temples on full moon poya days.

Transportation

Mabodale is accessible from tarred roads from surrounding suburban areas. The village is served by two buses running between Divulapitiya and Veyangoda regularly. In addition, three-wheeler taxi services are available at nominal cost from the entry points Ballapana, Medagampitiya and Dewalapola. Motorcycles are very much popular especially due to narrow access roads leading to houses and lands within the village. Mabodale is connected to the main railway network of Sri Lanka via Veyangoda where all of the express trains destined to major cities of the Island are stopped. Rapid access to Capital Colombo, which is 40 km away could be made by the buses running along the Bus route No. 05 operating from Kurunegala to Colombo via Minuwangoda.

GSM / Telephone Coverage

The village is fully covered by the four GSM cellular operators in the country. Prepaid SIMs and reload cards are readily available at entry points to the village. In addition, Sri Lanka Telecom fixed land line service is available throughout the village. Surprisingly, a telephone may be assigned one of the three different area codes as the village lies in the borders of three telephone exchange areas (Greater Colombo - 011, Negombo - 031 and Gampaha - 033.

Electricity

The village is now completely covered by the National Electricity Grid. Almost all of the houses are supplied with 230V AC Mains Power. Three Phase Electricity is also available for industries or houses.

Water

The main source of water is ground wells owned by individual families. Ground water is portable after boiling. Rain water collected in the "Weva" is mainly used for paddy cultivation.

Banking Facilities

Mabodale has several rural banking centers such as Sanasa bank and rural co-operative bank. Many government and private banks are operating in nearby suburban areas. ATM Facilities are also available in suburban banks.

Shopping

Day-to-day needs can be met by grocery shops scattered throughout the village. For bulk shopping, one may have to make a weekly visit to markets in nearby suburban areas.

Industries

Small industries such as welding workshops, motorcycle repair shops, wood mills, rice mills and coir processing plants can be found. Paddy and coconut cultivation and related post harvest industries are well established in the village.

Health Facilities

The village is primarily served by the nearby government district hospital situated in Divulapitita. In addition, private medical practitioners are also available within 15 minutes of travel by a three-wheeler taxi. For major illnesses, the villagers used to visit Government Hospital in Gampaha or Colombo-North Teaching Hospital in Ragama.

Schools

The village has one government school. For secondary school studies many students opt for government schools situated in Minuwangoda, Gampaha or Colombo.

Accommodation

Rented accommodation is rarely available. A visitor to the village either has to share accommodation with a relative / friend or book a hotel in Gampaha, Minuwangoda or in the popular beach resort Negombo which is 15 km away.

Traditions

Sinhalese Buddhist Culture is very much admired by the villagers. A visitor has to be mindful about decent clothing when entering religious places. Normally elders shall be respected by youngers and the hospitality is very much appreciated by Sinhalese families.