Irrigation works in ancient Sri Lanka
Encyclopedia
The irrigation works in ancient Sri Lanka
, the earliest dating from about 300 BCE, in the reign of King
Pandukabhaya and under continuous development for the next thousand years, were some of the most complex irrigation systems of the ancient world. In addition to constructing underground canal
s, the Sinhalese
were among the first to build completely artificial reservoirs to store water
. The system was extensively restored and further extended during the reign of King Parākramabāhu (1153 – 1186 CE
).
According to Sri Lankan history, the first tank was built by King Pandukabhaya who reigned from 437 to 367 BC. It is said that he had three tanks built, namely Abhaya weva, Gamini weva, and Jaya weva, yet, presently, only one tank named Basawakkulama weva can be identified. After King Pandukabhaya, King Parakramabahu I had many tanks built, with one large tank called Parakrama samudraya still providing water for agriculture. It can be said that many rulers of Sri Lanka contributed to the development and construction of tanks all over the Raja Rata (Northern part of the country).
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, the earliest dating from about 300 BCE, in the reign of King
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
Pandukabhaya and under continuous development for the next thousand years, were some of the most complex irrigation systems of the ancient world. In addition to constructing underground canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
s, the Sinhalese
Sinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
were among the first to build completely artificial reservoirs to store water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
. The system was extensively restored and further extended during the reign of King Parākramabāhu (1153 – 1186 CE
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
).
According to Sri Lankan history, the first tank was built by King Pandukabhaya who reigned from 437 to 367 BC. It is said that he had three tanks built, namely Abhaya weva, Gamini weva, and Jaya weva, yet, presently, only one tank named Basawakkulama weva can be identified. After King Pandukabhaya, King Parakramabahu I had many tanks built, with one large tank called Parakrama samudraya still providing water for agriculture. It can be said that many rulers of Sri Lanka contributed to the development and construction of tanks all over the Raja Rata (Northern part of the country).
External links
- http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/T0028E/T0028E03.htmSena de Silva, Reservoirs of Sri Lanka and their fisheries, FAOFãoFão is a town in Esposende Municipality in Portugal....
, 1998] - [ftp://ftp.fao.org/sd/SDA/GIAHS/SriLanka_ancient_irrigation_proposal.pdf FAO - Protection and revival of Ancient Irrigation Systems in Sri Lanka]