Ancient constructions of Sri Lanka

The ancient Sinhalese excelled in the construction of tanks (Wevas) or reservoirs, dagobas (or stupas) and palaces in Sri Lanka, as evident from the ruins which displays a rich variety of architectural forms.

Irrigation works
Tissa Wewa (Tissamaharama), an ancient reservoir
Sigiriya moat

Major irrigation schemes of Sri Lanka, as evident from the earliest written records in the Mahawansa, date back to the fourth century BCE (Parker, 1881;[1] Brohier, 1934). The purpose and determination in the construction of the irrigation systems are depicted by the words of Parakrama Bahu I, 1153–1186 CE: "Let not even a drop of rain water go to the sea without benefiting man".

The Sri Lankan chronicle, the Culavamsa which was written in the Buddhist canonical language Pali, enumerates his works both as a provincial ruler in western Sri Lanka and later as the monarch of the whole country: he either built or restored 163 major tanks (reservoirs), 2,617 minor tanks, 3,910 irrigation channels, 328 stone sluices and 168 sluice blocks, besides repairing 1,969 breaches in embankments. Among the reservoirs he built was the tank at Polonnaruwa, called on account of its size the Parakrama Samudra (translation: Sea of Parakrama). With an area of 30 square kilometres (12 square miles) and an enclosing embankment 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) long, it irrigated nearly 100 km2 (39 sq mi).

The final achievements were highlighted by Sir Henry Ward, Governor of Ceylon:[2] It is possible, that in no other part of the world are there to be found within the same space, the remains of so many works of irrigation, which are, at the same time, of such great antiquity, and of such vast magnitude as Ceylon. Probably no other country can exhibit works so numerous, and at the same time so ancient and extensive, within the same limited area, as this Island.

Reservoirs

A wealth of river basin-based water heritage is abundant in Sri Lanka.[3] Reservoirs of Sri Lanka are different from the water tanks seen in ancient civilisations or bodies of water collected for purposes such as generation of electricity or supplying water for consumption.

Tanks are locally termed Wevas (plural: Wew).

Stupas of ancient Sri Lanka
Thuparamaya stupa, Anuradhapura

The dagobas, or stupas, are distinctive for many reasons. They are probably the largest brick structures known to the pre-modern world. Demala Maha Seya, which was never completed, had a circumference of 2,011 feet (613 m). Jetavanaramaya is the largest stupa constructed in any part of the world. It is over 120 metres (390 ft) in height and has a diameter of 367 feet (112 m). The foundation is 252 feet (77 m) deep. The deepest-known foundation of the ancient world. It needed bricks that could bear the load of 368 pounds (167 kg). Jetavana was the third-tallest building in the ancient world. Abhayagiri (370 feet (110 m)) ranked fifth and Ruwanwelisaya (300 feet (91 m)) came seventh. The first, fourth and sixth places were held by the pyramids.

Cave Temples of ancient Sri Lanka
Buddha statues in Dambulla Rock Temple

Cave temples had been used in Sri Lanka since ancient times, fine examples if these include the magnificent cave temple complex in Dambulla built by king Valagamba. Cave temples has preserved some of the best examples of Sinhalese art and Sinhalese architecture. In the years gone by of monarchy rule in ancient Sri Lanka the rock cave shelters cloistered in the recess of the forests served the recluse Buddhist monks in performing their meditation chores and other religious observances. Such cave hermitages were patronised by the ruling kings of the time, chieftains and the people as well. As the years passed, such cave shelters turned into len viharas (cave temples) and len avasas (abodes of Buddhist monks). Such len (cave shelters), were donated by kings, queens and other royalty and nobility. Foremost among such noble chieftains were the paramukas (chieftain of royal rank holding multiple designations).

Palaces of ancient Sri Lanka
  • Queen's Palace
  • Sigiriya built in the 5th century CE was a combination of natural and man made fortress built around a 200-metre-tall (660 ft) rock on which was the royal Sky Palace. It is world-renowned for the beautiful Sigiriya frescoes.

Landscaping in ancient Sri Lanka

Royal Baths of ancient Sri Lanka

Sculpture in ancient Sri Lanka
Samadhi Statue, Anuradhapura
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References
  1. Sri Lanka Ancient Irrigation
  2. Collected Minutes of Brohier (1934)
  3. A chronicle of Polonnaruwa: Changing the dimensions of writing history Archived October 21, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
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