Take a day trip from Negombo in the Hamilton canal and majestic Maha Oya to experience a tropical countryside boat trip to witness the riverine village life of fishermen, a Bamboo forest, and birds. Follow the historic route of the spice traders along the Hamilton canal and then cruise upstream on this spectacular Maha Oya river to experience a tropical countryside boat trip and witness the riverine village life of fishermen, a Bamboo forest, and birds.. We can stop at a sandy beach for a swim in the fresh water. The British Agent of Revenue and Commerce in 1802, Garvin Hamilton. started a new canal to the east of the earlier cut canal by Sinhalese king and the Dutch. This canal was meant to link the Dutch canal by a series of parallel canals designed to drain the Muturajawela. what happened was the opposite as the high tide brought salinity not only from the Negambo lagoon but also the Kelani river. Thus the Hamilton Canal was born, named after Garvin Hamilton and stretching 14.5km from Colombo to Negombo.