The Old Trooper

Commonly known as the Little Grey Fergie, Harry Ferguson’s TE20 was the first agricultural tractor that was made affordable for the every day farmer. Manufactured from 1946 to 1956, the lightweight, compact tractor was Ferguson’s most successful design – the maneuverability and versatility of the machine allowing it to quickly replace draft horses and manual labor in farms across Great Britain. The design also introduced the three-point hitch system to tractors, which has since become the industry standard.

In 1953, one of these legendary little tractors arrived in Wellawaya as only the second tractor in that region, courtesy of the late Mr. Kadurugamuwa of the original Kaduruketha manor. It was purchased from the Brown Agriculture Division and registered under the number CV-5003 and featured a petrol-kerosene engine with a 2,088-cc capacity, the larger of the two engine variants produced at the time. Following years of ploughing the manor’s paddy fields, the tractor was replaced by newer models and left to gather rust in the manor’s shed.

With its discovery of the rusted old tractor, Jetwing Kaduruketha embarked on an ambitious project to restore the old trooper to its former glory. With a bit of passion, new parts, and some elbow grease the TE20 now stands proud opposite the lobby of the hotel, enjoying a well earned retirement with the same paddy fields that it ploughed over half a century ago providing a stunning panorama.