BOGALA MINE OF MICA

This mine of graphite is located in Aruggammana Village which is 5 km ahead along Avissawella – Kotiyakumbura route that traces across Aruggammana in Galigamuwa division. Mining mica started in the era with British Colonials. It is not more than 160 years unto now since then that mining was vastly extended over the country in 1830-1880 A.D.

The vein of graphite ore in Sri Lanka spreads from Mathara to Kaluthara and Kurunegala. Dumbara, Kolonna and RuwanvFalls are sites of mica in Sabaragamuwa Province. Graphite mining was advanced to a level of industry in the era during Colonial times. Bogala, Punchi Bogala and Karandawaththa mines are introduced as depositions of mica. Bogala mine which was established as a private mining industry in 1920 was later converted into a company named “Bogala Mines” in 1947.

Bogala mine and three other mines were remained after the war. Graphite Corporation saw the light after Bogala mine, which was owned by Graphite Corporation in Bogala, was taken over by the government on 18th may, 1971. Mining mica in Bogala thus has become a duty of State Excavation and Mineral Development Authority since 1979. This industry was renamed as “Bogala Graphite (Lanka) Corporation Limited” in 1991.

This mica contains a high percentage of carbon unto 90-99 percent. These mines would count 313 m long, 156 m wide and 781 m deep. A large number of employees work in these mines even today. When observing the process of mining underground, one can understand the grueling act of making mica a treasure. Flake mica, chunky mica, mica powder, broken mica and micron are found in this mine. These types of mica are exported to several countries. New technology is also used for mining in Bogala Graphite.

According to mining poetries Bogala was the largest and the oldest mine at that time. There were two mines as Maha Bogala and Punchi Bogala and lots of laborers have worked here camping. The fact is elaborated in these verses.

“Maha Bogala comes of the days by gone
The Bogala mine lives for years
The lass Karalina works in the mines Sees the wind of revolving wheel at Bogala
The grief of our working souls in Maha Bogala
Thus lives under a massive rock in Bogala
The destined budget of Bogala mine Kotiyakumbura at hand of Bogala mine”

Thus, it is clear that there are lots of folk poems that versifies Bogala mine.