Browsing by Author "Withanachchi, C.R."

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    Elephant Images in the Art and Graphic Designs of Colonial Sri Lanka
    (Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Kodithuwakku, K.; Withanachchi, C.R.
    Use of the image of elephant in various artifacts of Sri Lanka can be traced in the various periods of Sri Lankan history. The objective of this paper is to explore into the use of the elephant image in art and graphic designs other than traditional art forms during the colonial period in Sri Lanka (from the 16th century to the first half of the 20th century). The colonial rulers were more inclined to use the image of the elephant in maps on Sri Lanka, and also on graphic designs frequently due to the fact that the elephant is symbolic of wisdom, majesty and strength and also an attractive representation of the topography and natural beauty of the island. Therefore the image of the elephant played a significant role in the cartouche of maps during Portuguese, Dutch, and British periods. Up to until 1952, coat of arms of Sri Lanka also carried the image of an elephant facing forward placed in the middle of two coconut trees. Rix dollar and Striver coins issued during the British period too included elephant images. The one pound note issued in 1818 which is considered the oldest currency note issued in Sri Lanka depicted an image of an elephant on it. Thereafter, the ten rupee note issued in 1929 also included an image of the elephant. In 1935, a postal stamp was issued carrying the image of an elephant for the first time. During the British rule, the image of the elephant was used as the logo of several government institutions. Ceylon police, Ceylon Government railway, Royal College Colombo, Hatton National Bank are some of the examples. Only the image of the elephant used in the crest of Sri Lanka police has been altered slightly while all the other institutions still carry the image of the elephant in their logos without any alteration.
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    Explanation of resource use pattern between North Central and Northern part of central highland in the early historic Sri Lanka
    (University of Kelaniya, 2013) Mendis, T.; Withanachchi, C.R.
    Many academic researchers who worked on the history of Sri Lanka marginalized and underrated the use and exchange of resources in the country. On a regional scale, Northern Malayarata (Northern part of Central Highlands) and Nuwarakalawiya (North Central Province) has received less attention in these studies. The use and exchange of the natural resources between the mentioned regions have not been widely discussed, but existence of such in Early Historic Period (300 B.C. A.D) are evidenced by inscriptions. The present study discusses the matter using archaeological evidence, epigraphic data as well as literary sources. The Northern region of the central highlands of the country is rich in mineral sources. According to geological studies the Upper Kala Oya system originating from the Northern Central Highlands is rich in minerals such as amethyst, feldspar, mica and various types of quartz. Metal deposits were recorded vicinity of Nalanda. For a long period of time, people of the country used these resources and from the Early Historic period metal workmen have contributed to the Northern Highlands. The inscription at Bambaragala mentions a village called Kolagama (Koligama), which is a settlement of metal workers. Also, Early Brahmi inscriptions in Wegiriya devalaya and Nalanda provide evidence about lapidary and gem industry. Artisans and merchants obtain these minerals from the deposits in highlands and sub markets in peripheral small towns of Anuradhapura done a great role in supplying to the central markets at city. Also minerals such as agate, carnelian, lapis lazuli, onyx, etc. imported from foreign countries to Anuradhapura were distributed to highland areas via these same gateways. Further, it can be seen that there were certain population groups such as Parumaka, Gahapathi, Bharata, Gamika, etc. who handled the industry as evidenced by inscriptions.
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    Identification of socio- archeological responsibility of irrigation system
    (Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Withanachchi, C.R.
    The objective of this research is to explore and identify the socio-archeological responsibility of the irrigation industry. This study pays more attention to the various activities that led to the development of the irrigation industry. More specifically an attempt is made to analyze the social, political and natural activities that resulted in the development of the irrigation industry. While studying the socio – archaeological space that affected the development of the irrigation of ancient Sri Lanka, it is clear that it has been examined as a wide range. Irrigation is not born alone and it is a procedure, built on the needs of people and developed gradually because of them. Water has been a political device and by this time it had come forward with the usage as “Water politics”, owing to the social validity of water. When considering this concept regarding Sri Lanka, it is very clear that a long history has been built in the irrigation field. It seems that since ancient times it was a duty of the state, to give the benefits through water management to the public, as a basic trick to ensure development. During the pre-historic era with scattered settlements and little population it was easier to make use of water by constructing temporary bunds and small tanks to store rain water. However, it is clear that while the early historical period led to the construction of medium and large scale irrigation systems, in order to understand the people and the political authority of the society it is not enough to raise the water use methods further according to the rapid growth of population expansion. The potential separations of the three main areas of responsibility of the irrigation industry are related social activities, political activities and natural activities.
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    Usage of Stone in Road-Building: An Industrial Archaeological Perspective
    (The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Kodithuwakku, K.; Withanachchi, C.R.
    Stone is a prominent geo-material used for various necessities in the evolution of human culture for quite a long time. The usage of stone in the history of road-building has been in practice sincecirca 4thand 5th century A.C. It was practiced in Sri Lanka until the first half of the 20thcentury. The type of stone used was granite, commonly known among the locals as ‘Black Stone’, Gneiss or Charnokite with a high degree of hardness used for constructing roads, bridges, culverts and other superstructures. In the late 19th century the Telford and Macadam methods were introduced for paving at ascertained sizes and strata. At the inception, rollers made with granite driven by oxen or elephants were used to press the paving. One of such rollers is exhibited in the Highway Museum at Pilimathalawa. Thereafter, steam and diesel-powered rollers have been used respectively. In the municipal areas, setts were used for paving roads. Granite bars had been used for the construction of bridges called SilaSetuin inAnuradhapura period. These bridges are of two types namely, beam bridges and slab bridges. Stone beam bridges are largest bridge type and remains of several bridges have been identified in the Anuradhapura region. Masonry arch- bridges are the earliest example for the stone bridges used in British Colonial Period. Foundations, piers, abutments and wing walls of the arch-bridges have been made using granite. In the second half of 19th century, several segmental arch-bridges using stones emerged. The dressed stone blocks have been used to build parapet walls with coping of iron bridges. Apart from these, stones have been used to carve mile posts, guard stones of culverts and manhole plates. The objective of this paper is to examine and identify the usage of granite for road construction. A field survey in situ has been conducted to achieve the positive results.
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