History of Mahagama

According to my grandfather, Nayage Suramanis Fernando who died in 1983 at the age of 90,  first settlers  who arrived from Omatta, an adjoining village to the northeast, started their life in a remote part of Mahagama  called Gangodawatta long ago.My belief is it could well be in 18th century.The main reason for the arrival was graphite  which was in abundance there at that time.there were plumbago mines there which provided employment or a steady income for a good number of people who worked in these mines.It is no wonder some people decided to settle in around these mines as these mines guaranteed uninterrupted income for year to come.