Contribution of British Colonial Rule to the Conservation and Maintenance of Ancient Irrigation Works in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The earliest irrigation system in Sri Lanka dates back to the sixth century BC. It had reached its peak of development around the twelfth century AD. With the migration of civilization to the southwest, the arid zone was overgrown and destroyed by the abandonment of ancient irrigation industries. But many of the old irrigation industries are still active today as living heritage. This was due to the conservation and maintenance are done by the local rulers as well as the colonial rulers who ruled the country. The purpose of this research was to trace the contribution of the British colonial rulers who ruled the country for more than a century to the conservation and maintenance of the ancient irrigation industry. The research problem here is what kind of conservation and maintenance was done during the British colonial rule on the ancient irrigation system of Ceylon. Because this research is based on a qualitative approach, the methodology used in the case studies used the study of archival records and documents, direct observation, and the examination of physical archeological remains. The irrigation system, which was widespread throughout the dry zone plains, was initially protected by the people who built it and by the conservation and maintenance work done by the state machinery itself. Centuries after the collapse of civilization, ancient irrigation was rediscovered and identified, and proposals for conservation were made during British colonial rule. In addition, funding for the conservation of the irrigation industry and the implementation of small and large-scale irrigation conservation programs, as well as the formulation of laws, regulations, and institutions for conservation work, were important processes during the British colonial period.