Abstract

The earliest irrigation system in Sri Lanka dates back to the sixth century BC. It 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 old irrigation industries are still active today as living heritage. This was due to the conservation and maintenance are done by the local rulers and 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 archaeological remains. The irrigation system that spread over the plains of the dry region was initially protected by the people who built it and by the conservation and preservation activities done by the government machinery of the ancient period. Centuries after the collapse of civilization, ancient irrigation was rediscovered and identified, and proposals for preservation 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 preservation programs, as well as the formulation of laws, regulations, and institutions for preservation work, were important processes during the British colonial period. However, the British did not try much to reform the irrigation industry in the early stages of their rule. Also, some of the policies they followed for the reconstruction and maintenance of the irrigation industry later on, due to their little knowledge of local traditions, brought disastrous results.

Keywords: Ancient, British, Conservation, Irrigation, Maintenance