Great Engineering feats II:

Vast reservoirs built by the Kings

The hydraulic civilisation of our motherland which developed around agriculture, the cultivation of rice particularly,during the reign of numerous kings that ruled the land, is indeed a marvel to many of us.

The vast ancient reservoirs,small and large tanks and canals built by our ancestors which are supplemented today with many new ambitious irrigation projects such as the Victoria, Randenigala and Kotmale Reservoirs have become the lifeline of our country which has an agricultural base.

Last week we highlighted some of the great reservoirs built during modern times and this week we focus attention on some of the tanks built by the kings. The vast reservoirs built by our ancient kings depict the rich cultural heritage of our country.While providing the lifeblood - water to irrigate the parched lands especially in the dry zone, they make up for the lack of natural lakes in the country.

The hydraulic civilisation in the country developed during the Anuradhapura period and the Polonnaruwa period . The greatest period in the history of irrigation in the country dawned during the Polonnaruwa period,especially under King Parakramabahu I. Of all the monarchs that ruled our land King Parakramabahu the Great is renowned for his contribution to the irrigation sector.

According to available records he is credited with the construction or restoration of 165 dams 3910 canals, 163 major tanks and about 2376 minor tanks during his 33 year reign.

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Parakrama Samudra

The crowning glory of King Parakramabahu I,the magnificent reservoir Parakrama Samudra which is also known as the Sea of Parakrama is situated in Polonnaruwa.It is a shallow reservoir which is about is 2430 hectares (6000 acres) in extent and is the oldest and northern most reservoir in the country. The Topawewa, along with Dumbuthulu wewa and Erabudu wewa, were combined by Parakramabahu I, to create this great reservoir.

The three separate reservoirs are connected only by narrow channels at low water.The middle section is Eramudu wewa and the southernmost portion at the highest elevation is Dumbutula wewa.It is recorded that Topa wewa was built around A.D. 386 .and the other sections were added and the reservoir expanded during the reign of King Parakramabahu the Great, and hence it is also also called the Topawewa by some.

This ancient, intricate and sophisticated water storage system which provided the irrigation for the rice fields in the country at that time was abandoned with the collapse of the Polonnaruwa kingdom.It was restored to its present status in the recent past.

Features

Catchment area: 87 Sq.km

Length and height of dam :12.300m and 15m

Capacity:134.4 million cu.m

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Minneriya wewa

This picturesque reservoir constructed by King Mahasen in 286 AD is considered to be one of his greatest works as agriculture flourished in the country with the construction of this tank which occupied an area of about 4670 acres.

As this tank, with its strong high dam holding many billion gallons of water, and also the numerous other tanks he built created an irrigation paradaise in the east, King Mahasena was referred to as the Minneri Deviyo or God of Minneriya by the villagers.

The water for this large reservoir was channelled from the mighty Mahaweli River, 48 kms away, along the Alahara canal recorded to have been built by King Vasaba, long before.It is also recorded that the Trincomalee harbour became one of the busiest harbours in the region due to the growth in agriculture that opened up massive trade with South East Asia. According to the chronicles, King Parakramabahu the Great too is credited with the renovation of this massive tank.It is said that even in the recent past, in 1903 as well as in 1953, work was carried out to conserve and expand this tank which irrigates a vast area of land in the country.

Features

Catchment area:386 Sq. km

Length and height: 2332 m and 21 m

Capacity;136 million cu.m

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Kantale wewa

The ancient chronical, Mahawamsa records that this tank which is also referred to as 'Gangathala Vapi' was built by King Agbo the II (608-618) and rehabilitated and further developed by King Parakramabahu the Great. (1153 - 1186).Many rich folk tales are vowen around this ancient tank situated in the Trincomalee district. Both the Duch and English who governed the country before we gained independence are recorded to have carried out reconstruction and rehabilitation work on this tank.

Features

Catchment;216 Sq. km.

Length and height:2300 m and18 m

Capacity:135 million cu.m

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Fast facts

* According to the ancient chronicle, the Mahawamsa, the major irrigation schemes in the country date back to the fourth century B.C.

* Parakramabahu the Great, who ruled the country from 1153-1186 AD is considered as a king who contributed much to the development of the irrigation system of the land during his reign. It was in his time that the country was known as the Granary of the Orient. He is famous for these words "Let not even a drop of rain water go to the sea without benefiting man."

* There are about 30,000 tanks in Sri Lanka of which the majority was built from 3rd century BC to 12th century.

* The major (ancient and modern) irrigation reservoirs (each more than 200 ha) cover an area of 87854 ha, while the seasonal/minor (ancient) irrigation tanks (each less than 200 ha) account for 52250 ha.

*The rainwater reservoirs developed in the ancient kingdom of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa in the Dry Zone of central lowlands resulted in two season of farming .

* The fall of the ancient hydraulic civilisation of Sri Lanka in the 13th century is sais to be due to thesudden natural cataclysmic change of the river course of the Mahaweli Ganga.

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Girithale wewa

Giritale wewa or tank is not as significant as the Minneriya tank and Parakrama Samudra, by way of the area covered,but it holds its significance as an ancient and pituresque tank built by King Agbo II.(608-618). This tank too is believed to have been renovated by King Parakramabahu the Great during his time and even in modern times, that is around 1905, the tank had been renovated to accommodate a larger area of water.In 1942 and 1952 also the reservoir had been subject to conservation measures with the objective of obtaining the water required for proposed colonisation from this reservoir.

Features

Catchment area: .24 Sq.km

Length and height of dam: 550m amd 23m

Capacity:24 million cu.m

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Kala wewa

There is much folklore around this picturesque tank which is considered to be the pinnacle of irrigation work done by King Dathusena (459-477) who considered water as his wealth and treasure.The dam is recognised as one of the world's greatest by many.According to historical records King Mahinda the II (777-797) expanded Kalawewa.

The modern history of Kalawewa begins with rehabilitation work commissioned by the governor, Sir William Gregory during the British period.In 1958 the bund structure was rehabilitated to combine Kalawewa to Balaluwewa.Irrigation uncertainties of Kala Oya valley came to an end once the Mahaweli waters reached Kalawewa on 1976.Today Kalawewa is a key reservoir in the Mahaweli System.It endows Mahaweli H Zone with a hydrological lifeline. Kalawewa also is a beautiful location within the Mahaweli System.

Features

Catchment: 598.7 Sq. km.

Length and height: 6500 m and14.8 m

Capacity:123.3 million cu.m

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Nachchaduwa wewa

This ancient tank which is said to have been built by King Mugalan II, accumulates water from both the Malwathu Oya and Maminiyawa Oya.Chronicles say, King Vijayabahu who reigned during 1055-1110 carried out a great deal of rehabilitation and development work on this tank .In the early 90s this tank was renovated by the Irrigation Department and later further improved to hold a larger volume of water. Even though in 1957 the Great Flood caused severe damage to the tank,it was rehabilitated by 1958.

Today it receives water from the Mahaweli System.

Features

Catchment:623Sq. Km.

Length and height:1646 m and11 m

Capacity:55.7 million cu.m

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The great royal tank builders of ancient Lanka

* King Abhaya (474-453 BC): first rainwater reservoir of the island was built by him.

* King Pandukabhaya (437-366 BC): Abhayawewa (Basawakkulama wewa) rainwater reservoir was built in Anuradhapura.

* King Vasaba (65-108 AD): The first major irrigation works were launched by him. King Vasaba was responsible for the construction of a dozen irrigation canals and eleven tanks, the largest with a circumference of three kilometres.

* King Mahasena (276-303 AD): The first giant reservoirs were constructed by him. The vast Minneriya tank and 15 other reservoirs were constructed by this king.

* King Dhatusena (461-478 AD): The vast Kala Wewa rainwater reservoir and the remarkable 90km long Jaya Ganga (also called Yoda Ela) canal with a subtle gradient of 1 ft per mile was built by the king.

* King Moggalana (497-514 AD): The Padviya tank built by him became the largest tank at the time. Today following restoration it is slightly smaller than Kalawewa and Minneriya weva.

* King Aggabodhi III (623-639 AD): The Giritale tank and several other tanks were built by the king.

* King Dappula II (807-811 AD): Panduwewa (Pandu water reservoir) was built

* King Parakrambahu the Great (1153-1186 AD) was called the royal master builder of tanks.

Largest ancient rainwater reservoirs

The Sea of Parakrama (2100 ha), Kaudulla (2537 ha), Minneriya (2550 ha), Huruluwewa (2125 ha), Kala Wewa rainwater reservoir (2583 ha),ahakanadarawa (1457 ha), Nachchaduwa (1785 ha), Padaviya (2357 ha), Rajangana (1600 ha)

Courtesy: Mahaweli Authority and Waterworld