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| Kandalama Tank | |
|---|---|
| Name | Kandalama Tank |
| Location | Dambulla, Matale District, Central Province, Sri Lanka |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Inflow | Amban Ganga, rainfall |
| Outflow | irrigation channels |
| Basin countries | Sri Lanka |
| Built | c. 5th–6th century CE (ancient), restored multiple times |
| Dams | ancient earthen bund |
| Cities | Dambulla, Sigiriya, Matale |
Kandalama Tank Kandalama Tank is an ancient irrigation reservoir near Dambulla, adjacent to the Sigiriya rock fortress in the Matale District of Central Province, Sri Lanka. The tank functions as a historic hydraulic structure tied to early medieval irrigation efforts by rulers associated with the Anuradhapura Kingdom and later periods, and it sits within a landscape that includes major archaeological sites such as Dambulla Cave Temple and the frescoes of Sigiriya. The site links to regional transport routes connecting Kandy, Polonnaruwa, and Trincomalee and influences contemporary conservation and tourism plans driven by institutions like the Central Environmental Authority and the Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka).
Kandalama Tank is part of a network of reservoirs and tanks including Minneriya Reservoir, Parakrama Samudra, and Kala Wewa that supported rice cultivation and settlement in the dry zone served by the Mahaweli River catchments. The tank’s proximity to monumental sites such as Sigiriya and the Dambulla Cave Temple places it within broader cultural landscapes managed by agencies like the Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka), the Central Cultural Fund, and conservationists from universities such as the University of Peradeniya and the Open University of Sri Lanka. Its hydrological role connects to historical irrigation practices recorded in chronicles like the Mahavamsa and research by scholars from institutions including the National Museum of Colombo and the International Water Management Institute.
Constructed during the early medieval period under rulers of the Anuradhapura Kingdom and possibly maintained under the Polonnaruwa period, Kandalama’s embankment engineering reflects techniques seen in historic works such as Parakrama Samudra commissioned by Parakramabahu I and reservoirs attributed to kings like Vattagamani Abhaya and Dhatusena. Medieval chronicles such as the Mahavamsa and archaeological surveys by the Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka) document networks of tanks including Tissa Wewa and Nuwara Wewa. British colonial surveys conducted by engineers from the Survey Department of Sri Lanka and reports by officials in Ceylon further recorded restoration efforts in the 19th and 20th centuries. Modern conservation and restoration involved agencies such as the Irrigation Department (Sri Lanka) and international partners including the Asian Development Bank and research collaboration with the University of Colombo.
The tank is fed by tributaries of the Amban Ganga and seasonal monsoon rainfall governed by the Northeast Monsoon and Southwest Monsoon, linking its management to regional water regimes studied by hydrologists at the International Water Management Institute and the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency. Structural features include an earthen bund and sluice systems similar to mechanisms at Kala Wewa and Kadadora Wewa, designed for irrigation distribution to paddy tracts around Dambulla and Sigiriya. Engineering assessments by the Irrigation Department (Sri Lanka) reference spillway designs found in ancient reservoirs like Basawakkulama Tank and modern instrumentation deployed by the Mahaweli Authority for monitoring storage, sedimentation, and inflow-outflow dynamics.
The riparian and wetland habitats around the tank support flora and fauna documented by researchers at the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya. Avifauna include species recorded on checklists by the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka and international bodies such as BirdLife International, while herpetofauna and mammals overlap with populations in Minneriya National Park and Kaudulla National Park. Aquatic communities mirror those studied in reservoirs like Parakrama Samudra and involve fishery practices overseen by the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Botanical surveys reference native and invasive species pertinent to restoration projects coordinated by the Central Environmental Authority and conservation NGOs such as the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society.
Kandalama Tank lies within a cultural landscape that includes UNESCO-linked assets like Sigiriya and national treasures such as the Dambulla Cave Temple, with archaeological oversight by the Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). Proximate ancient settlements and irrigation complexes relate to studies by scholars associated with the Archaeological Department of the University of Kelaniya and reports in journals like those of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO. The tank features in local oral histories and in records of land tenure preserved in colonial archives of Ceylon and in administrative files of the Survey Department of Sri Lanka.
The reservoir and surrounding landscape attract visitors traveling between Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Kandy, with lodging and eco-tourism projects involving hotels like those managed by operators in Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority circuits and architects influenced by Geoffrey Bawa's regional work. Activities include birdwatching promoted by groups such as the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, guided heritage tours organized by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, and nature walks developed by community-based organizations in Matale District.
Management involves the Irrigation Department (Sri Lanka), the Department of Wildlife Conservation, and the Central Environmental Authority, with integrated plans informed by research from the International Water Management Institute and academic partners including the University of Colombo and the University of Peradeniya. Conservation challenges—sedimentation, invasive species, and tourism pressure—are addressed via restoration projects funded or advised by entities such as the Asian Development Bank and national heritage programs under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs (Sri Lanka). Collaborative efforts engage local communities in Matale District and civil society groups to balance heritage, agriculture, and biodiversity objectives.
Category:Reservoirs in Sri Lanka Category:Archaeological sites in Sri Lanka Category:Tourist attractions in Central Province, Sri Lanka