Badu Pot (literally “Quarry Pool” in Sinhala) is a deep, abandoned granite quarry lake located in the , North Western Province, Sri Lanka. Situated near the Kurunegala–Dambulla main road , close to the Ibbagamuwa area, this water-filled pit is a remnant of rampant, unregulated gem and rock mining that peaked in the early 2000s. By 2021, Badu Pot had become infamous not for its mineral wealth, but for its chilling reputation as a “death trap” — a place of mysterious disappearances, drowning accidents, and social neglect.
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However, the revival of this ancient practice was not sustainable. The Badu Pot of 2021 was inefficient and prone to exploitation. A person with a stock of imported noodles (hoarded from black markets) could exploit a desperate fisherman for a week’s supply of fish. It was a system without a standard measure of value, leading to frequent arguments and social friction. Furthermore, the government viewed these informal barter circles with suspicion, as they operated outside the taxable economy. Police in Kurunegala occasionally dispersed these gatherings, not out of malice, but out of a misguided attempt to enforce a monetary system that had already failed.
A spotlight on the best "Goodies" (Badu) and local finds in Kurunegala for 2021
A highly-rated "spot" for authentic Asian and Sri Lankan flavors. It gained a reputation for being a great stop for a while maintaining high quality and traditional taste. Cloud 9 Cafe 4.4 (236) Rs 1,000–2,000 Coffee shop Open Kurunegala, Sri Lanka