The Hamilton canal, named after Gavin Hamilton, the British agent for revenue in 1802, was initially built by the Sinhalese under King Parakramabahu. It was then extended by the Dutch and the British. It forms part of the canal network that connects the Keleni river to Puttalam in the north via the Negombo and Chilaw lagoons. The canals were built as a flood control measure and to transport goods.
