The A 1 road is an A-Grade trunk road in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...

. It connects the capital city of Colombo

Colombo

Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...

 with Kandy

Kandy

Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...

.

History

Commonly known as the Kandy Road, the A 1 was the first modern highway in the island. Construction began in 1820 under the orders of the British Governor of Ceylon, Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton, 3rd Baronet. Construction was carried out by Captain William Francis Dawson

William Francis Dawson

Captain William Francis Dawson was a prominent road builder in British Ceylon . An Engineer attached to the Royal Engineers, he was given the task of building the Colombo - Kandy Road linking Colombo and Kandy. The job took its toll on Dawson, who died before it was completed. It would be the ...

—who died during the project—along with Major Thomas Skinner

Thomas Skinner (Ceylon)

Major Thomas Skinner, CMB was a prominent road builder in British Ceylon .-Biography:...

. In the memory of Captain Dawson, the Dawson Tower

Dawson Tower

Dawson Tower, is located on Kadugannawa in the Kadugannawa Pass next to the Colombo - Kandy Road first modern highway in the island. Work began on the Colombo - Kandy Road in 1920 under the direction of Captain Dawson who died during the project. The Dawson Tower was erected in memory of Captain...

 was erected at Kadugannawa

Kadugannawa

Kadugannawa is a town in Kandy District in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is located along the A1 road west of Peradeniya. The town is served by Kadugannawa Railway Station and has the Kadugannawa Central College.-References:...

 in the Kadugannawa Pass.

Route

The A1 highway begins at Colombo Fort. It passes through Peliyagoda

Peliyagoda

Peliyagoda is a town and Urban Council in Gampaha District in the Western Province of Sri Lanka.As of 2001 it had an estimated population of 29,880.-References:...

, Kelaniya

Kelaniya

Kelaniya is a small town near Colombo, Sri Lanka in the Gampaha District. It is known for the Buddhist temple built on the banks of the Kelani River, which runs through the town...

, Kiribathgoda

Kiribathgoda

Kiribathgoda is a suburb of Colombo and is situated on the Colombo Kandy Road between Kelaniya and Mahara/Kadawatha in Sri Lanka. Its the first commercial E-town in Sri Lanka. Kiribathgoda is a one of main famous commercial cities in Sri lanka. The Official Web Site of Kiribathgoda Town is...

, Mahara

Mahara, Sri Lanka

Mahara is an old city in the Gampaha District in the Western Province in Sri Lanka. It is situated along the A 1 highway.-See also:* Mahara Prison* List of football clubs in Sri Lanka* List of Archaeological Protected Monuments in Sri Lanka...

, Kadawatha

Kadawatha

Kadawatha is a small town situated in the Gampaha District of Sri Lanka. The distance to Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, is about 10 miles from Kadawatha. DSI , Smak , Alcobronzo , Sparklit and Homerun Pas are some of the industries established there...

, Kirillawala, Imbulgoda, Balummahara, Miriswaththa, Yakkala, Weediyawaththa, Thihariya

Thihariya

Thihariya is a city in Gampaha District. Western province of Sri Lanka has three main districts called Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara. Colombo is the capital of the country and Gampaha is known as the second capital. Thihariya is located nearly 9 km away from Gampaha town....

, Nittambuwa

Nittambuwa

Nittambuwa is a town situated in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka....

, Pasyala, Wewaldeniya, Danovita, Warakapola, and Ambepussa

Ambepussa

Ambepussa is a town in the Kegalla District in Sri Lanka Also one more Ambepussa in Gampaha District.- History :The first railroad tracks in Sri Lanka led from Colombo to Ambepussa .- Geography :...

. At Ambepussa, the A6 Highway

A6 highway (Sri Lanka)

The A 6 road is an A-Grade trunk road in Sri Lanka. It connects Ambepussa with Trincomallee.The A 6 passes through Polgahawela, Kurunegala, Ibbagamuwa, Melsiripura, Galewala, Dambulla, Habarana, Gal Oya, Alut Oya, Kantale and Thampalakamam to reach Trincomallee....

 branches off the A1, heading towards Kurunegala

Kurunegala

Kurunegala , is the capital of the North Western Province, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka and the Kurunegala District. Kurunegala was also an ancient royal capital for 50 years, from the end of the 13th century to the start of the 13th century. The town itself is a busy commercial and a transport hub...

. The A1 continues east, passing Tholangamuwa, Udukumbura, Nelundeniya, Yattogoda, Galigamuwa, Ambanpitiya, Ranwala, Kegalle

Kegalle

Kegalle is a town in Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. It is located on the Colombo - Kandy road. Its 48 miles/78 km away from Colombo and 24 Miles/40 km away from Kandy. It is the Capital City of the Kegalle District which is one of the two districts belonging to Sabaragamuwa province...

, Meepitiya

Meepitiya

Meepitiya is a village in Sri Lanka. It is located within Central Province.-External links:*...

, Karandupana, Molagoda

Molagoda

Molagoda is a village in Sri Lanka. It is located within Central Province.-External links:*...

, Uthuwankanda, Anwarama, Mawanella

Mawanella

Mawanella is a small town which belongs to the Kegalle district in the Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. It lies between Kegalle and Kadugannawa along the Colombo-Kandy road. The area consists of four administrative areas, namely Mawanella, Aranayake, Rambukkana and Hemmathagama.-People:There is...

, Beligammana, Hingula, Kadugannawa

Kadugannawa

Kadugannawa is a town in Kandy District in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is located along the A1 road west of Peradeniya. The town is served by Kadugannawa Railway Station and has the Kadugannawa Central College.-References:...

, Pilimathalawa, Kiribathkumbura, and Peradeniya

Peradeniya

Peradeniya is a town of about 50,000 inhabitants on the outskirts of Kandy in Sri Lanka. It is situated on the A1 main road connecting Kandy and Colombo, just a few kilometres west of Kandy....

to reach Kandy.