Zero Mile Post at Laxapana - Maskeliya - Norton Bridge

This is a very special and remarkable landmark in Sri Lanka located at Double Cutting Junction on Norton-Maskeliya Road approximately 3km from Norton Bridge. No other such mile posts are found anywhere in Sri Lanka, hence the importance of it. When a straight line is drawn from top to bottom of Sri Lankan Map between Point Pedro and Dondra, that line crosses this point. Two of the important rivers of Sri Lanka, Kehelgamu Oya and Maskeliya Oya run on either side of this point creating two of the most beautiful and loved waterfalls. They are Laxapana Falls (Maskeliya Oya) and Aberdeen Falls (Kehelgamu Oya). They flow towards Kalugala where both merge to create mighty Kelani River. The practice to measure the distances to other parts of Sri Lanka began in 1830 with the construction of the first modern highway, A1 from Colombo to Kandy. It used to be in miles but later turned to kilometers. The measurement starting point is the Fort Clock Tower near President's House. It's alleged prior to this, distances were measured using this 0 Mile Post.