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Old Maddegama does not appear in the Ceylon Alamanac records of 1856 but is listed in the next available records of 1870 (Ferguson's Directory). The estate therefore would have been established between 1856 and 1870 as a coffee plantation. The 1870 records reveal that the property was 271 acres in extent of which 165 was planted with coffee. It remained a coffee plantation until 1885 with the change to tea being first reflected in the records of 1886 - 187 acres of tea. In 1922, rubber makes an appearance for the first time with an extent of 30 acres under cultivation.
From the FD records of 1930, Old Maddegama records were included in Bowlana Group.
Currently (2019), Old Maddegama is a division of Bopitiya Group, which in turn falls under the Galaha Group that is managed by the Janatha Estates Development Board (JEDB).
Post Town
Galaha
District
Hewahetta Lower
Established
1870
Estate & Planter data only covers the period from 1870 to 1929 with some gaps in-between as not all records were available. Pre 1870 and post 1929 updates will be made in due course.
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The first Shipment of Ceylon Tea, a consignment of 23lb (10kg) arrived in London for trade
The first public Colombo Tea Auction was held at the premises of Somerville & Co. under the auspice of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
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