The name Homadola estate was derived from HOMA DOLA (Brook). The Homadola – Homa Brook flows down from the world heritage site of Sinharaja forest and proceeds by the edge of the Kothalawala Bungalow down the ravine and cascades down a rocky cliff from where it breaks into a lovely gush.
The splendid view of Sri Pada to the north of the tea factory and the clear beaches to the south of the factory are very rare scenic sights one could ever think of viewing from a single point. The estate commenced operations in 1920 and was owned by Beau Sajour Rubber Company Ltd, 61, Portland place, London, WIN 3 AJ.
Homadola was originally a Rubber Plantation with tea being introduced only 35 years ago. Then the Managing agent was Whittals Boustead. In 1975 the estate came under the Sri Lanka State Plantations Corporation. In 1992, during the re-privatization of the estates it was clustered into Watawala Plantations Limited under the management of Lankem Plantation Services Ltd. and in 1996 the Managing agents became Estate Management Services Pvt. Ltd. Presently Homadola Estate is an amalgamation of 5 different estates namely:
1. Homadola
2. Upper Homadola – Owned by Sir John Kothalawala.
3. Riceland – Devagiri Groop
4. Udugama – Morawak Korale Transport
5. Stokesland – The Ceylon Timber and Rubber Syndicate Ltd.
The estate’s elevation ranges from 174 meters to 305 meters above mean sea level and falls under the Low Country Agricultural climate Wet Zone 1. Annually the estate receives more than 3500 mm of rain fall that is well distributed except for the peak periods, during the two monsoons.
Homadola Estate has and produces Tea, Rubber, Oil palm, Cinnamon, Dragon Fruit, Pineapple and Banana crops. The work force of the estate at present is 720. The Total Population is 2300. Of the workforce, 77% are Tamils and 23% Sinhalese.
Rubber plantation bungalows at the lower elevations do not need the same elaborate bulwarking against the adversities of weather. They are built to capture a waft of the breeze billowing through open doors and open terraces. Such a bungalow is to be found in Homadola Estate. The bungalow construction has its origin to recent Colonial times. In fact it reflects the 1930 phase of architecture.
Homadola is the largest Multi crop plantation in Sri Lanka with both Tea and Rubber Factories and can boast of having the best in class of Oil palm and Tea Nurseries. It’s the estate that holds the record highest Tea YPH for low grown RPC estates. The estate has won many awards in Social Welfare Activities and has been in the forefront of improving living standards for her Associates.
