Tanks are locally termed Wevas,
- Parakrama Samudraya or Sea of Parakrama
- Kantale Wewa
- Yoda Wewa
- Tissa Wewa (Anuradhapura)
- Muruthawela Wewa
- Hurulu Wewa
- Tissa Wewa (Tissamaharama)
- Nuwara Wewa
- Nachchaduwa Wewa
Parakrama Samudraya:
This vast water reservoir was built by King Parakramabahu the great (1153-1186) and today what you see as the Parakrama Samudraya is only a portion of his original creation.Parakrama Samudraya originally consisted of five large reservoirs separated by smaller dams to reduce the pressure on the main dam. Many smaller tanks has been built around the main tank to feed these primary tanks and to take in excess water.
The main five reservoirs which consist of the Parakrama Samudraya are,
- Thopa Vawa
- Eramudu Vewa (Katu Vewa)
- Dumbuthulu Vewa
- Kalahagala Vewa
- Bhu Vewa
During reconstruction of the Parakrama Samudraya in the latter half of 19th centuary, the water which was supposed to flow to the Thopa Vawa has started flowing to the Bhu Vewa. To control this the engineers constructed a temporary dam to block the water flowing to the Bhu Vewa. This temporary dam became a permanent road and this road isolated Kalahagala Vewa and Bhu Vewa from the Parakrama Samudraya.
The new reconstruction process has ignored most of the ancient technology which this tank was built in reducing the capacity of the tank further. As at today, the dam of Parakrama Samudraya is 8 ½ miles (14 kilometres) in length and 40 feet (12.2 metres) in height. The body of water covers 5350 acres with an average depth of 25 feet. Over 18000 acres of paddy land is supported by this reservoir.
On one edge of the reservoir is the Polonnaruwa Rest House managed by Hotels Corporation. Along the dam there are few star class hotels closer to the Pothgul Vehera (Pothgul Temple).
Kanthale Wewa:
Sri Lanka’s reservoir building technology was at its peak during the mid Anuradhapura Kingdom era to Polonnaruwa Kingdom Era ( 1017-1236) and most of the largest tanks in the country was built during this period. The Parakrama Samudraya, is the the largest, constructed with a 14 kilometer dam encompassing 5 tanks within it was built by King Parakramabahu the Great during the 12th century. But some other gigantic tanks such as Minnerya Tank and Kaudulla Tank are some of the earlier work belong to early as 3rd Century. Though not as large as the giants, Kanthale Tank lies on the way to Trincomalee and has been not short of attention from the colonial times.
Kantale was known as Ganthalawa since the days of the kings. Tamils used to write and pronounce it as Kathalai due the lack of letters and sounds in the tamil language.
When the government was attempting to re colonize Gantalawa in the early 1950’s, a team of early settlers had build a campsite inside the jungles had only a small path from the main road to reach their camp. A team leader from that group had put up a small board at the top of this path with the name of “Ganthalawa Camp Road”. A tamil politician called Wanniyasingam who was a MP representing Vavuniya District has seen this piece of board and has insisted that this name board should be removed and the transliterated Tamil name Kantale should be used in the parliament in 1952.02.28 according the Hansard Records. With no one standing against this, the name board was requested to be removed immediately by the government and acted as a prelude to Ganthalawa officially being called Kantale.
The great chronicle of Sri Lanka, Mahawamsa records that Kantale Wewa which is referred to as ‘Ganthala Vapi’ was built by King Agbo the II (608-618) and was rehabilitated and further developed by King . It is believed that King Agbo II in fact built over a small tank which was already existing by that time. Many rich folklore’s are woven around this ancient tank situated in the Trincomalee district. Both the Dutch and English who governed the country before we gained independence are recorded to have carried out reconstruction and rehabilitation work on this tank.
The ancient Kantale Tank had 2 bisokotuwa to release water to the fields, one in northern side and one in southern side near the pattini devalaya. A new sluice gate called Montana Gate was built in 1950’s with the re colonize effort of Kantale Valley. Disaster stuck the Kantale Tank when its northern bund was breached 20th April 1986 during rains. The breaching of the dam has been attributed to a building of a pump house on the bund weakening its strength. After this breach a new sluice was Radial sluice gate was installed at the breached sluice. Today only this sluice and the Montana Sluice are operational.
The 1500 year old breached rock slice-gate has been reconstructed at thetop of the dam for the viewing of the public.
Yodha Wewa:
The Yodha Wewa in Mannar is one of the largest tanks in the island and was It was built by King Dhatusena (459-477) by damming and diverting water from the Malwatu-oya. Known as Manawatu Wewa in the ancient times, the tank is fed by an 8 mile (13 km) ancient canal, recently restored, which carries water from the Malwatu Oya river.
British irrigation engineers who discovered Yoda Weva ( Giant’s Tank) in the 19th century failed to comprehend the design of this tank which was in ruins and considered a great failure. Sir James Emerson Tennent in 1860 wrote in his publication ” Ceylon – an account of the island physical, historical, and topographical with notices or itsnatural history. antiquities and productions”.
From Anuradhapura, I returned to the west coast, following the line of the Malwatte-oya, the ancient Kadamba, which flows into the Gulf of Manaar, north of Aripo. Within a few miles of the coast our party passed, at Taikum, the immense causeway of cut granite, two hundred and fifty yards in length, and upwards of fifteen feet high, by which it was attempted to divert the waters of the river into the canal, that was designed to supply the Giants’ Tank. None of the great reservoirs of Ceylon have attracted so much attention as this stupendous work. The retaining bund of the reservoir, which is three hundred feet broad at the base, can be traced for more than fifteen miles, and, From Anarajapoora, I returned to the west coast, following the line of the Malwatte-oya, the ancient Kadamba, which flows into the Gulf of Manaar, north of Aripo.
Within a few miles of the coast our party passed, at Taikum, the immense causeway of cut granite, two hundred and fifty yards in length, and upwards of fifteen feet high, by which it was attempted to divert the waters of the river into the canal, that was designed to supply the Giants’ Tank. None of the great reservoirs of Ceylon have attracted so much attention as this stupendous work.
The retaining bund of the reservoir, which is three hundred feet broad at the base, can be traced for more than fifteen miles, and,as the country is level, the area· which its waters were intended to cover would have been nearly equal to that of the lake of Geneva. At the present day the bed of the tank is the site of ten Populous villages, and of eight which are now deserted. Its restoration was successively an object of solicitude to the Dutch and British Governments, and surveys were ordered at various times to determine the expediency of reconstructing it. Its history has always been a subject of unsatisfied inquiry,as the national chronicles contain no record of its founder. A recent discovery has, however, served to damp alike historical and utilitarian speculations; for it has been ascertained that, owing to an error in the original levels, the canal from the river, instead of feeding the tank, returned its unavailing waters to the channel of the Malwatte river. Hence the costly embankment was an utter waste of labour, and the Singhalese historians, disheartened by the failure of the attempt, appeared to have made no record of the persons or the period at which the abortive enterprise was undertaken.”
Yodha Wewa is situated about 25km southeast of Mannar in the Mannar District in a semi-arid zone. A part of the tank bund is located along the Madawachchiya – Mannar Road. The water from this tank is fed to 162 smaller tanks downstream and irrigates about 11,000 hectares of paddy land.
The embankment of Yodha Wewa is over 7 km in length with a height of 14 feet. This is comparitively a low height considering other reservoirs of same size. But it is clear that ancient irrigation engineers has considered the flat land in the area and increased the volume of the tank by increasing the area of water spread rather than increasing the depth of the tank. The tank now covers over 4550 hectares ( 45.5 sq. km) and capable of carrying 31,500 acre feet ( 39 Mn cubic meters) of water.
The embankment of Yodha Wewa is over 7 km in length with a height of 14 feet. This is comparitively a low height considering other reservoirs of same size. But it is clear that ancient irrigation engineers has considered the flat land in the area and increased the volume of the tank by increasing the area of water spread rather than increasing the depth of the tank. The tank now covers over 4550 hectares ( 45.5 sq. km) and capable of carrying 31,500 acre feet ( 39 Mn cubic meters) of water.
For almost 3 decades parts of this tank was under Tamil Tiger terrorists and the maintenance was neglected due to security reasons. The area which was farmed with the waters were engulfed by the jungle. But in 2008 this area was totally liberated by the Sri Lankan Armed forces and restoration of the tank has already begun. Once the tank is fully restored to carry the full volume of water, this area known as the rice bowl of the country will once again live up to its name.
Tissa Wewa (Anuradhapura):
Tissa Wewa is an ancient irrigation tank was built by King Devanampiya Tissa (250-210 BC). Only Panda Wewa and Abhaya Wewa are considered to be older than Tissa Wewa. The embankment of Tissa Wewa is 11,000 feet long (Two miles) and 25 feet high. The width of the top of the reservoir was found to be 12 feet to 18 feet. Base of the embankment is 160 feet. Tissa Wewa has an area of approximately 550 acres.
Mahawansa reports that King Bhatikabaya (20 BC-9 AC) pumped water using a machine up to Ruwanweli Seya and sprayed water to flowers which covered the full stupa. Further, water from this reservoir was also used to fill the tanks of Ranmasu Uyana, the Royal water garden next to the Isurumuniya Viharaya.
Tissa Wewa receives water through the ancient canal of Jaya Ganga, an ancient canal originating at Kala Wewa. The excess water is released to the Malwathu Oya river. The embankment of the Tissa Wewa tank is approximately 3 km long.
Parker in 1909 reports that the embankment appears to be in original state ( that of 1100 years ago) and its so solidly built, with little maintenance this bund will last forever. Just as he commented, the Tissa Tank continues feed water to the Anuradhapura even today.
Muruthawela Wewa:
Muruthawela Wewa is a reservoir in Southern Province and is nearby to Ihala Obada and Mahakaluweragoda Forest Reserve.
Hurulu Wewa:
Hurulu Wewa is a reservoir in North Central Province and is nearby to Karambegama and Yakalla.
Tissa Wewa (Tissamaharamaya):
The Tissa Wewa is one of the four large ancient irrigation tanks in the area and is believed to be constructed the 3rd Century BC by King Yatala Tissa, or regional king Maha Naga who is a brother of king Devanampiyatissa (250-210 BC).
Since the rainfall of this area is low and the catchment area is small, the builder of the tank took all these in to consideration in building the bund (embankment). The water was retained at about 13 feet depth and left only 5 feet between the water level and the top of the bank. The embankment is about 1.2 km long. A single flood escape section (pita wana) about 100 meters in length is located on the eastern side. From this the water is flown to Yodha Wewa down stream. The surface area of the tank covered 652 acres resulting a capacity of 160 million cubic feet. According to a report written in 1858 by Mr. G. D, B. Harrison, the bund was was built of large roughly-hewn blocks of stone, few of which are less than a ton in weight.
During the restoration work in 1871, the top of the banks was cut down by 3 feet since much of it was worn away. Water was retained to a level of 10 feet. Just about 25 years later it was realised that this was not the optimum and it was rebuilt to the original specifications set by of the Sri Lankan irrigation engineers over 2300 years ago.
Nuwara Wewa:
This artificial lake (Kandy Lake /the Nuwara Wewa) was built by the last king of Kandy (and of Sri Lanka), Sri Wikrama Rajasinhe to beatify the Temple of the Tooth Relic (Dalada Maligawa) by excavating paddy fields in 1807. He called this artificial lake the :Kiri Muhuda” or the Milky Ocean.
He also added the “Valakulu Bamma” (the clouds wall) around the lake but before he could complete, British forces invaded the city of Kandy and prisoned the last Kandyan King in 1815. The Walakulu Wall still remains in the same unfinished state with a length of 2060 feet.
The triangular holes in the wall has been used to light oil lamps in the night. This same design has been used for the outer wall of Sri Dalada Maligawa. He also built a dam across the lake to travel to the other side of the lake but then he destroyed it from both ends leaving only a portion in the centre creating an island. On the Dalada Maligawa side of the lake is the Queens Bathing House. Which is partially in the lake itself. The perimeter of the lake is about 3.4 km and the walakulu wall runs to about 2060 feet around the lake.
Since the rainfall of this area is low and the catchment area is small, the builder of the tank took all these in to consideration in building the bund (embankment). The water was retained at about 13 feet depth and left only 5 feet between the water level and the top of the bank. The embankment is about 1.2 km long. A single flood escape section (pita wana) about 100 meters in length is located on the eastern side. From this the water is flown to Yodha Wewa down stream. The surface area of the tank covered 652 acres resulting a capacity of 160 million cubic feet. According to a report written in 1858 by Mr. G. D, B. Harrison, the bund was was built of large roughly-hewn blocks of stone, few of which are less than a ton in weight.
During the restoration work in 1871, the top of the banks was cut down by 3 feet since much of it was worn away. Water was retained to a level of 10 feet. Just about 25 years later it was realised that this was not the optimum and it was rebuilt to the original specifications set by of the Sri Lankan irrigation engineers over 2300 years ago.
Nuwara Wewa:
This artificial lake (Kandy Lake /the Nuwara Wewa) was built by the last king of Kandy (and of Sri Lanka), Sri Wikrama Rajasinhe to beatify the Temple of the Tooth Relic (Dalada Maligawa) by excavating paddy fields in 1807. He called this artificial lake the :Kiri Muhuda” or the Milky Ocean.
This artificial lake (Kandy Lake /the Nuwara Wewa) was built by the last king of Kandy (and of Sri Lanka), Sri Wikrama Rajasinhe to beatify the Temple of the Tooth Relic (Dalada Maligawa) by excavating paddy fields in 1807. He called this artificial lake the :Kiri Muhuda” or the Milky Ocean.
He also added the “Valakulu Bamma” (the clouds wall) around the lake but before he could complete, British forces invaded the city of Kandy and prisoned the last Kandyan King in 1815. The Walakulu Wall still remains in the same unfinished state with a length of 2060 feet.
The triangular holes in the wall has been used to light oil lamps in the night. This same design has been used for the outer wall of Sri Dalada Maligawa. He also built a dam across the lake to travel to the other side of the lake but then he destroyed it from both ends leaving only a portion in the centre creating an island. On the Dalada Maligawa side of the lake is the Queens Bathing House. Which is partially in the lake itself. The perimeter of the lake is about 3.4 km and the walakulu wall runs to about 2060 feet around the lake.
Nachchaduwa Wewa:
Mahagallaka reservoir (today known as Nachchaduwa reservoir) is considered to be one of the sixteen large reservoirs built by King Mahasen (276-303). Nachchaduwa lies just outside the city of Anuradhapura . Centuries later King Dhatusena (459-477) built a canal (Jayaganga) to bring water to this reservoir from Kalawewa. This reservoir is considered to be a bold scheme since huge flood water with very high velocity could come down the valley. The great chronicle Mahavamsa probably makes another reference to this reservoir during the time of King Moggallana II (535-555).It is said that King Moggallana II, who lived 300 years later built Passapatanavapi reservoir by damming the Kadamba river (Malwathu Oya). This description matches well with Nachchaduwa. It is possible that Moggallana II could have expanded the work of Mahasen.
Nachchaduwa tank has three sluices to control its water levels. The main sluice is located near the southern end of the bund and releases water mainly to Tissa Wewa . The other two sluices release water to Nuwara Wewa . According to H. Parker, Ancient Ceylon, “It was a bold scheme as floods estimated to amount to 11,000 cu ft per second were to be expected and there was no suitable rock over which they could be allowed to flow, but it was carried out successfully”
In 1906 the Irrigation Department took the responsibility to restore the tank which was ruined in the past. The Department also took further effort in 1917 by improving the tank’s capacity. In 1957 the Great Flood caused severe damage to the tank, nevertheless in 1958 the rehabilitation work was completed. Today it receives water from the Mahaweli System. The tank covers 1200 hectares ( 12 sq. kilometers) at full capacity.
Nachchaduwa tank has three sluices to control its water levels. The main sluice is located near the southern end of the bund and releases water mainly to Tissa Wewa . The other two sluices release water to Nuwara Wewa . According to H. Parker, Ancient Ceylon, “It was a bold scheme as floods estimated to amount to 11,000 cu ft per second were to be expected and there was no suitable rock over which they could be allowed to flow, but it was carried out successfully”
In 1906 the Irrigation Department took the responsibility to restore the tank which was ruined in the past. The Department also took further effort in 1917 by improving the tank’s capacity. In 1957 the Great Flood caused severe damage to the tank, nevertheless in 1958 the rehabilitation work was completed. Today it receives water from the Mahaweli System. The tank covers 1200 hectares ( 12 sq. kilometers) at full capacity.
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