- AMAZING WATER ENGINEERING SYSTEM IN ANCIENT SRI LANKA - IRRIGATION TANK SYSTEM
Thogh Sri Lanka small in physical size, it is a cluster of Traditional Knowledge. Sinhalese creations were unbelievable and simply surpass modern technology in every sense.
It is truism that almost every civilization in the world so far rooted along river banks or a water resouvier which is a very valuable for domestic purposes. Eg- Mesopotemia (Ypretise and Tygries, land between rivers), Egyptian civilization (Nile river), Indus valley sindu nadee).
Likewise Anuradhapura is the first kingdom in Sri Lanka which too was set up by the Kadamba Nadee now known as Malwathu oya. Aryans who came to Sri Lanka had the intrinsic knowledge of paddy cultivating and practiced it in here too. Flourished low land, water facility and sunny weather made the paddy cultivation successful. However escalating population, law annual rain fall, ground water being situated in deeper level were problems for them.
Likewise Anuradhapura is the first kingdom in Sri Lanka which too was set up by the Kadamba Nadee now known as Malwathu oya. Aryans who came to Sri Lanka had the intrinsic knowledge of paddy cultivating and practiced it in here too. Flourished low land, water facility and sunny weather made the paddy cultivation successful. However escalating population, law annual rain fall, ground water being situated in deeper level were problems for them.
In order to overcome these challenges well formulated irrigation system was established. This technology was not something written in tablets or ola leafs it was in their soul.
At the initial stage water tanks were built in miniature level and also referred as "polkatu wewa" Later on the size as well the technological components of it was profoundly changed and developed. By the time of Polonnaruwa or Pulathisipura era the physical size of the water tank was unbeliveable and its component were astonished.
Eg- Parakrama Samudra, Minneriya wewa.
With the time building a tanks and channels were one 9of the prime essential of the subjects. I was introduced as a holy and a noble duty of the king.
In the process of building a tank it was done with an excellent observation. Topography of the land, soil layer, water capacity and the extent of the catchment are, , availability of the lands and highlands were observed. Wewa was a Eco friendly creation with water protection and amazing engineering combination. It is a real fruit of better combination of science and the nature. Each of its parts did it at the level best.
STONE LINER (RALAPANAWA, SALAPANAWA, RALAPANNUMA)
Inside of the bunt was designed with heavy granite liner. The prime object of this is protecting the river bund, prevent it from being eroded by water current.
VEW BAMMA (TANK BUND)
It is a huge as well very strong work. It holds the water inside the tank, for that it needs enough power.
SLUICE GATES (SOROWWA)
These were designed to release water in to the cultivation below the tank. It is divided in two (02)
All these clearly depicts us the glory of the technology of our ancestors.
Eg- Parakrama Samudra, Minneriya wewa.
With the time building a tanks and channels were one 9of the prime essential of the subjects. I was introduced as a holy and a noble duty of the king.
In the process of building a tank it was done with an excellent observation. Topography of the land, soil layer, water capacity and the extent of the catchment are, , availability of the lands and highlands were observed. Wewa was a Eco friendly creation with water protection and amazing engineering combination. It is a real fruit of better combination of science and the nature. Each of its parts did it at the level best.
STONE LINER (RALAPANAWA, SALAPANAWA, RALAPANNUMA)
Inside of the bunt was designed with heavy granite liner. The prime object of this is protecting the river bund, prevent it from being eroded by water current.
VEW BAMMA (TANK BUND)
It is a huge as well very strong work. It holds the water inside the tank, for that it needs enough power.
SLUICE GATES (SOROWWA)
These were designed to release water in to the cultivation below the tank. It is divided in two (02)
- Goda sorowwa
- Mada sorowwa
Latter was located at the bottom of the tank which expels mud accumulated there. Goda sorowwa was designed only to release water in to the cultivation.
BISO-KOTUWA
This is the most alive evidence of ancient Sri Lankan technology, this was shaped like a deep well. This was designed to limit the heavy pressure of the water releasing. This was connected to the sluice. When it is required to release water from vewa
gate opens gradually as kept
open with a particular opening . Then water level in the
Biso-kotuwa will come to a height less than that
of the water level in vewa. Then water will flow
through sluice to the outside canal driven by the
head of the Biso-kotuwa.
Old Biso-kotuwas were had no sign of its location when new schemes are designed. Such unique Biso-Kotuwas were unearthed at Mahagama Wewa and Urusita Wewain Uva province recently. This reveals the technology of our ancestors.
VEW THAWULLA
This was totally for the betterment of tank itself. Vew thawulla was located at rather high land which is full of trees, bushes and creeps. Spoiling the vew thawulla was highly restricted. In dry season water in vewa was preserved by thawulla.
Apart from the main components of the ancient Vewa it has a Ela system which distibute water among villagers and their cultivations. Yoda Ela alias Jaya Gaga it was costucted by King
Dathusena.
It was the canel water from Thisa wewa to Kala wewa. The gradient is about 10 centemeters per kilometer or 06 inches per mile.
All these clearly depicts us the glory of the technology of our ancestors.
Sluice gates
Vewa bemma and ralapanawa
Biso-kotuwa
Keep it up akke ❤❤🎉️🎉️
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