Download as PDF, PPTX
Uploaded byDr. P.B.Dharmasena
Lesson 6 - Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Sri Lanka
The document outlines a lesson on indigenous irrigation systems in Sri Lanka, focusing on cascade systems and water harvesting concepts, alongside a comprehensive overview of Sri Lankan agriculture's history, culture, and climate adaptation techniques. It details the evolution of traditional settlements and irrigation practices, emphasizing the importance of water resource management for various human and ecological needs. Additionally, it discusses ancient water governance methods, structures, and the ecological significance of tank cascades in the region.
More Related Content
Similar to Lesson 6 - Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Sri Lanka
Lesson 6 - Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Sri Lanka
- 1. Indigenous Knowledge Systems lesson6 - Indigenous Irrigation systems (cascade system, water harvesting concepts) (2hrs) • P.B. Dharmasena • 0777 - 613234, 0717 – 613234 • dharmasenapb@ymail.com , dharmasenapb@gmail.com • Links to publications: https://independent.academia.edu/PunchiBandageDharmasena https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Punchi_Bandage_Dharmasena/contribu tions http://www.slideshare.net/DharmasenaPb https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_PFqwl0OqsrxH1wTm_jZeg • Course Code: MS 5208 (02:30/00) • Saturday 3.30 pm – 5.30 pm (ZOOM)
- 2. Indigenous Knowledge Systems 2.Fundamental features of Sri Lankan Agriculture; climate, Soil, Genetic resources, agro biodiversity (2 hrs) 3. History and the culture of Sri Lankan agriculture sector development (1 hr) 4. Green revolution and its impact on Sri Lankan traditional agricultural system (biodiversity deterioration, inorganic substances for pest and disease controlling, development of hybrid varieties etc.) (1hr) 5. Indigenous soil management practices (2hrs) 6. Indigenous Irrigation systems (cascade system, water harvesting concepts) (2hrs) 9. Traditional practices for, weather forecasting, plant nutrient supplementing, pest and disease control and indigenous agricultural machines and tools (2hrs) 13. Cultural dimensions of Agricultural rituals in Sri Lanka (1 hr) 14. Climate change and Indigenous Agricultural knowledge in Sri Lanka(1 hr) Total: 12 hours) List of lectures by P.B. Dharmasena
- 3. Indigenous Water ResourcesManagement – not only for Irrigation Water resources management was of multi- purpose: • Food production – irrigation; • Human needs – settlement, drinking water, bathing, recreation, other domestic needs; • Rainwater harvesting systems; • Existence of the environment (flora, fauna, environs); • City planning (Anuradhapura, Sigiriya) • Parks, landscaping etc. (water springs, ponds) • Administrative boundaries • Natural disaster mitigation (Flood, drought, cyclone, epidemics)
- 4. Indigenous Irrigation Systems MasterPlan of Sri Lanka River basin level Inter-river basin level Inter-reservoir level Sub-watershed level Village level Field level
- 5. Prince Vijaya (543–505BC) invaded our country • Sailors entered the country from Alli Rani Harbour for trading • Vijaya also came along Western coastal boarder using NE monsoonal winds passing Alli Rani Harbour to Kudiramalai (Thammenna) • There were 10 regional kings (including the Prince Kuweni ) ruled the country at that time • Prince Vijaya killed most of them with the support of Prince Kuweni • That was the end of 10 kingdoms of Sri Lanka Alli Rani Harbour Kudiramalai
- 6. Kevesastha (Northern) Upulwangiri (KalaOya) Rakungiri (Malwathu Oya) Mahagiri (Samanala mountain area) – Kelani, Kalu, Walawe, Mahaweli Chalaka (Mi Oya) Neelagiri (Modaragam Aru) Kawasthalabha (Yan oya) Dhumaka Kaddeera (Deduru Oya) Indra (Maduru Oya, Mundeni Aru, Gal oya) Agni (Kumbukkan Oya, Menik Ganga, Kirindi Oya River Basin Level Water Governance (3,000 BC)
- 7. Sharing water resourcesin the past (600 BC – 1200 AD) • Dambulu Oya - Malwathu Oya diversion canal (860 AD) • Malwathu Oya - Kanadara Oya diversion canal (860 AD) • Yoda Ela - Nachchduwa feeder canal (540 AD) Mahakanadarawa Nachchaduwa Kalawewa- Balaluwewa Dambulu oya Malwathu oya Kanadara oya Kala Oya Inter-river basin level
- 8. Manewa cascade Mahakanumulla cascade •Single bank canal • It runs along contour • Water is collected from upstream • Water is released to both sides • Canal moves along tank upstream • Tank cascade systems are fed Kalawewa-Thisawewa Giant Canal Inter-river basin level
- 9. – Kalawewa -Thisawewa Yodha Ela (470 AD) – Nachchaduwa - Nuwarawewa feeder canal (290 AD) – Balaluwewa - Siyambalangamuwa feeder canal (290 AD) – Basawakkulama - Maha Vilachchiya feeder canal (470 AD) Kalawewa-Balaluwewa Thisawewa Siyambalangamuwa Nachchaduwa Nuwarawewa Mahavilachchiya Basawakkulama Malwathu oya Thalawa oya Kala oya Sharing water resources in the past (600 BC – 1200 AD) Inter-reservoir level
- 10. Anicuts to divertwater in Deduruoya Basin Stone anicuts (Ex. Sukara Nijjara Amuna)
- 11. Anicuts to divertwater in Deduruoya Basin Timber anicuts (Ex. Kotta Badda Amuna) – King Parakramabahu-1
- 12. Sukara Nijjara Amuna– King Parakramabahu-1
- 16. Thekkama Amuna – Malwathuoyaby King Dhatusena (459-477 AD)
- 17. How did they locateancient reservoirs? Kantale Huruluwewa Minneriya Giritale Parakrama Samudra Maduruoya Mapakadawewa Udawalawa Kalawewa & Balaluwewa 150 m contour
- 18. Network of tanks andstreams No flood and no drought
- 19. Nachchaduwa Kanadarawewa Vilachchiya Kalawewa and Balaluwewa Huruluwewa Main factors: 1.Morphology (landscape) • Lower elevation, • Moderate undulation 2. Rainfall • Bimodality • ~1500 mm/ year 3. Soil and geology • Regolith aquifers • Low infiltration • RBE – LHG Network of tanks and streams in the form of cascades
- 20. Tank clusters orcascades
- 21. Tank clusters orcascades
- 22. Tank clusters orcascades
- 23. Distribution of tank cascadesin Sri Lanka
- 24. Tank cascades are foundin: Northern; North Central; North Western; Uva; and Southern Provinces
- 25. Tank cascades are foundin: Mullaitivu; Vavuniya; Anuradhapura; Trincomalee; Puttalam; Kurunegala; Hambantota; and Monaragala
- 26. Tank cascades are foundat the elevation range of 100-500m amsl
- 28. DL 1b DL1e DL 1f DL 1c DL 1b DL 5 Agro-ecological regions: DL 1b, DL 1d, DL 1e, DL 1f, DL 5 DL 1d
- 29. North and North Centralcascade Zone and North Western cascade Zone are located in the Wanni Complex South and South Eastern Cascade Zone is located in the Vijayan Complex
- 30. Tank cascades are foundmainly on RBE and LHG soils and some on RYP and IBL
- 31. Tank cascades are foundmainly between 800 – 2000 mm isohyets of annual rainfall
- 32. Tank clusters orcascades • A ‘cascade’ is a connected series of tanks organized within a micro- catchment (meso catchment) of the dry zone landscape, storing, conveying and utilizing water from an ephemeral rivulet’. (Madduma Bandara, 1985)
- 33. Cascade defines surfacewater movement alone • Cascade ecology (Ecology is the study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their physical environment). • Land (extent covered by cascade catchment) • land use (specific land use systems with natural and agricultural land uses and commons), • Soil properties (changed soil properties due to cultivation, water table and groundwater movement), • Flora (different floral communities and ecosystems), • Fauna (different faunal communities and ecosystems), • Groundwater (water table fluctuation and groundwater movement with chain of surface storages), • Human activities
- 34. New definition ofthe tank cascade system • An ecosystem, where water and land resources are organized within the micro- catchments of the dry zone landscape, providing basic needs to human, floral and faunal communities through water, soil, air and vegetation with human intervention on sustainable basis’ – Dharmasena, 2019
- 35.
- 36.
- 37.
- 38. Traditional Agricultural Practicesin adaptation to climate change • ‘Bethma’ practice during drought periods • It is a practice that temporarily redistributes plots of land among shareholders (paddy landowners) in part of the command area (territory) of a tank (reservoir) during drought periods • ‘Pangu’ method – Regular maintenance to avoid disasters • The tank had to be maintained properly to avoid breach, leak, and excess seepage. Repair and desiltation of tanks and cleaning of canals during dry periods are shared tasks assigned to each farmer proportionately to land ownership. • ‘Kekulama’ if the low rainfall maha is expected • Farmers advance the cultivation time using early seasonal rains whenever they feel that tanks would not get enough water to cultivate the command area. They have the experience that if September (2nd inter-monsoonal) rains are high, the total seasonal rainfall is not adequate to fill the tank. • ‘Thawalu Govithena’ during extremely dry situation • Tank bed cultivation using little rains constructing a main soil bund between deep phase and shallow phase of the tank bed
- 39. Four strata oftank water body Madakaluwa – dead storage area Wewpitiya – deep water area Waangilma – area between FSL and HFL Wewthaula – shallow water area Master bund in Thawulu Govithena to prevent tank sedimentation
- 40.
- 42. Diyaketa pahana -Alishthana
- 43. ‘Karahan kote’ fordistribution of irrigation water Q1 for A1 Q2 for A2 Q3 for A3 Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3
- 44. Giritale Tank -the ancient sluice to which the controlling gateway under the water surface still remains lost
- 45.
- 46. Rambakan Oya OldIrrigation Canal
- 47. An interlocking jointof the granite ruins of the ancient sluice gate
- 50. Yan Oya pre-historicburial site
- 51. Ibbankatuwa pre-historic burialsite Sri Lanka has a recorded history since 543 B.C. Although records are not found of civilizations before 543 B.C., historical facts reveal that a civilization existed even long before from Rawana Times. It's believed that an Expelled prince Vijaya to be the first Aryan King of Sri Lanka. Since then many Kings Ruled Sri Lanka Till 1815.
- 52. Ancient Sluices 1 2 3 6th centuryBC 3rd century BC 459 – 477 AD
- 55. The spill ways Source: “ Ancient Ceylon”, H. Parker, 1910”
- 56. The village tanksluices Source : “Wewa, U.B. Awesadahamy, 2003”
- 57. Ridee Bandille • Asystem of diverting water from perennial water stream without building a dam across the water way.
- 58. Ancient Rainwater Harvesting Technology Fountains Verticalflows Vertical flows
- 60.
- 63. Sigiriya kings must hadbeen in need of clean drinking water
- 64. Three water conveyance systems •Open water conveyance canals • Sealed subsurface clay pipes • Sealed subterranean conveyance canal
- 65. Octagonal pond Water garden 1– Interconnected garden complex for bathing Water garden 2 – Fountain gardens Water garden 3 - Royal water palaces surrounded by moats Water garden 3 From Western Entrance
- 66. Altitude at thelowest point of Pidurangala rock top: 324 m Altitude at the water spring point of Sigiriya: 198 m Elevation difference: 126 m Direct Distance: 1225 m Smooth slope path distance:1612 m
- 67. Elevations: Sigiriya tank: 204m Fountain garden: 204 m Octagonal pond: 212 m Head difference: 8m (26 ft) Atapattam Pokuna: 212 m Fountain ponds 204 m Octagonal pond relatively at a higher level
- 69. Evidence of a hugeexplosion Not a natural decay
- 70.
- 81.
- 82.
- 83. Finally …. The platformarea of Pidurangala rock is about 2 ha. If it is assumed that 80% of monthly rainfall could be collected from this flow pitch, the volume, which could be stored monthly is: Months Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total Rainfall (mm) at 75% probability 30.3 12.6 26.0 87.7 31.8 3.1 3.4 4.4 25.9 132. 0 168.3 105.7 631.2 Runoff (m3) 485 202 416 1,403 509 50 54 70 414 2,112 2,693 1,691 10,099
- 84. • According calculationsat least 10,000 m3 of water can be collected from this system. • What does it mean? • This historical perception can be rejected as a myth. • However, this system if rehabilitated will supply annual water storage of 10,000 m3 to the people, who are living around and are threatened with the chronic renal disease with unknown aetiology. Then …..
- 85. • If thedaily drinking water requirement is 3 lits./head, the problem of annual drinking water requirement of 9,000 people can easily be solved
- 86. Indigenous Water ResourcesManagement – not only for Irrigation Water resources management was of multi- purpose: • Food production – irrigation; • Human needs – settlement, drinking water, bathing, recreation, other domestic needs; • Rainwater harvesting systems; • Existence of the environment (flora, fauna, environs); • City planning (Anuradhapura, Sigiriya) • Parks, landscaping etc. (water springs, ponds) • Administrative boundaries • Natural disaster mitigation (Flood, drought, cyclone, epidemics)