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
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