The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/18713

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 79

Ancient corridor of Pakistan linkages with rest of other world and its impact on trade culture and pilgrimages
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Aslam, N.
Geographically in ancient times the term Pakistan applied to the North West region of Subcontinent. Owing to its peculiar geographical location ancient Pakistan had been closer contact with Afghanistan, China, Central Asian and West through Gandhara with many routes. The routes gradually converted into roads and highways. In ancient Pakistan many types of corridors developed such as king highway, caravan routes, pilgrims routes, trade routes and military routes. Grand Trunk road is the best example of king highway which was established by the Achaemenians dynasty. The Uttarapatha was the major rote of commercial and cultural exchange between the North-western borderlands of South Asia and Northern India. It was a Northern route started from Magadha through the Gangetic Basin and passes running through the region of Gandhara to far-away Western Asia as a royal trade route combined with a constant inflow of immigrants from highland Asia. The Silk road (modern Karakoram highway) was a historic road from Taxila to Kashghar via Thaha Kot,Chilas ,Gilgit and Hunza. The Silk route mainly a pilgrim route but provided an opportunity to discover the possibilities of trade. Khyber Pass route is the most famous route attracted migrants and armies. Migration of Aryans, Greeks, Scythian, Kushan and Huns developed a new political and cultural history of this region and served as an introduction pad for Buddhist spread across the Hindu Kush and Karakorum mountains. All routes from the highland of Afghanistan, China and Central Asia met at Taxila and it marked an important junction of routes to Kashmir and Chilas. The location of Taxila at the main gate to India has a network of routes connected to ancient Pakistan, Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan and China. It was mainly responsible for its development into a political economic and cultural Centre. Besides these, there were many routes and roads; between Sindh and Punjab, Gandhara and Northern India, plains of Punjab to Afghanistan and Central Asia and Gandhara to China. These main routes exercised for commercial and cultural exchange between the Northwestern and Northern India to Mathura, Taxila and Bactria in Northern Afghanistan and Western Central Asia and played a significant role in the development of culture and civilization in South Asia. The ancient routes of Pakistan provide different discoveries regarding many cultural values and its phases of expansion in south Asian region. This research paper highlights the different ancient routes of Pakistan linkages with Central Asia China Afghanistan and India. The cultural activities developed different periods linking with ancient route. In this regard ‘culture’ is concerned with the transaction of political social and economic values. Evidences of these exchanges are linked with the existence of coins and other trading commodities explored in this region. Commerce is the numbers of facilitating activities in exchange of commodities. Different culture systems and supporting activities found in the background of Pakistani culture are deeply analyzed and explored in regard to its related impact on the welfare and development of human wellbeing of these routes. The routes mainly discovered the Historical and cultural activities of different periods and linked with famous route of pilgrim. Pakistan served as a station between the east and west which received and transmitted cultural, artistic, political, commercial and religious currents in different directions. The political and cultural history of Pakistan frequently marks on numismatic evidence, art, architecture, and historical documents and inscriptions. This paper is focused on exploring different routes of Pakistan and culture activities and its development with its evidences in different historical period around theses route. Furthermore useful recommendations to link these ancient developments with current modern society are also extracted from this study. This research tells that how ancient culture and their values are having sound linkup with the ancient routes.
Artistic Expressions on the Vehicles
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Bhat, R.
The heritage of ‘transport’ is as ancient as the human existence; transport has much more significance than the ‘movement’. The phenomenon of transport entails the connection of cultures, carrier of ideas as well as innovations, which gradually led to the evolution of civilizations. The invention of wheel made the process dynamic, and various modes of transport became one of the niches to represent culture of people. Like various monuments, various modes of transport couldn’t remain untouched with the creative expressions, besides, the transport theme also found place often in various folk tales and folklores. The paper brings forth a different aspect of transport where one couldn’t refrain from visualizing that the world of transport is so colourful. It encapsulates briefly the development of art and craftsmanship on the modes of transport in Indian context. The beautiful transport collection from the ‘Heritage Transport Museum’ shall be used to highlight the association of visual & literary arts with the transport modes. ‘Heritage Transport Museum’ opened its doors to the public in December 2013 in an industrial belt of Gurgaon, and it is set up with the objective of evolving a multi experiential facility exploring the historicity of transportation in India. Light would also be thrown on the ’Street Jewellery’ Project, which has been initiated by the Museum to document and preserve the various forms of artistic expressions on the vehicles. On the whole the key factors that shall be talked about comprise of the background history of vehicle decoration, some specimens from the Museum collection, the process of documentation, paucity of ample research available, and the preservation of this dying art.
Beginning and Expansion of Transport in the Human Society
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Udayakanthi, T.G.D.
Within human Social evolution, social development link with transport. Accordingly, transport means the mobilization of living and non-living goods from one place to another. The main service of a mode of transport is to carry a person, an animal or an item from one place to another. The transport expanding worldwide in line with the rapid development through modes and in various shapes is a vital achievement of human society. Accordingly, the problem of this research was to investigate how transport system has affected to the social development. The main objective of this Research was to identify the impact of the transport for social development. Other objectives of this study were to identify means of the transport and beginning and the expansion of transport. In addition this study was conducted to identify the connection between society and transport. This study was mainly based on secondary data. The data collection sources were books, newspapers, magazines and internet. The transport creates a magnificent change in human society. It influences every social institution directly. Transport is one of the main factors of the infrastructure in any country. As main means of transport, by air, water, rail, cable, pipeline and space can be identified. For that, standard routes and ways have been decided. The roads, railways, airways, waterways, canals and pipelines may be named as the established ways of transport in relation to transport infrastructure. The evolution of transport displays the biggest technological transformation of human civilization. Transportation became important to maintain personal relations and to transport the commodities needed by the people after the spreading of human settlements in various parts of the word. There is a strong link between transport and development. Transportation is an important entity in human social evolution. Every step of social development is linked with transport. Among the modes of transport, land transport can be identified as one the most important modes of transportation which affects social ,economic, political and environmental sectors. When social, economic and political influenced were being discussed, most of the time positive impacts could be noted rather than in environmental.
Brick made arched bridges, culverts, tunnels along the Railways in 19th century Sri Lanka
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Manatunga, S.B.
In ancient times European Countries usually added arch shapes for their religious buildings palaces, and forts. In the first half of the 19th Century, Britain was using the arch to make roadways buildup bridges, tunnels, culverts, over toppings continuing the previous tradition. From them, one of a leading methodology to make such buildings was brick masonry. After introducing railway traffic in 1820s, they followed road way techniques in making their buildings such as tunnels, bridges, culverts etc. According to the motherland, the pioneer engineers and contractors who are from Britain made brick arch buildings to the railways in their crown colony of Ceylon. In Sri Lanka the earliest brick arched railway monuments have been built along the Colombo- Kandy Railway which is the first and thence in Kandy- Matale Line. These are belong to 1865-66, and 1879-80 years. Most of them are small culverts and short tunnels on the roadway over toppings. When transporting heavy loaded carriages, wagons and high power engines running along the tracks and long trains, some problems arose regarding the strength of brick related structures. As a result brick structures were replaced with concrete, iron and solid stone structures. The influence from widening as to two tracks some of them were either joined to new structures or demolished. In present, there are very small number of brick made railway monuments, but in still service at main heavy traffic roadways in the Country. These important historic events of 19th century are still not being discussed in archaeological studies. In this study will effectuate and insists on protection of architectural heritage which was fixed in 19th century to the main stream of brick monuments come from past.
Bulls, Bullocks and Bullock-Carts: Masculinity, Transport and Trade in Protohistoric and Historic South Asia
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Dalal, K.F.; Raghavan, R.G.
Ever since the domestication of Bos indicus, the prime means of transportation and traction, and therefore the bulwark of carriage, haulage and transshipment of goods during the Protohistoric and Historic Periods in South Asia has been the humble bullock-cart. This paper deals with its representations as seen from the Art and associated archaeological data of these periods. In addition, we look at the representations of the animals themselves, either as stud bulls (सससस) or the humbler bullocks (ससस). We will also look at the portrayal of bulls as symbols of masculinity, as seen in cultural expressions such as Jallikattu, of bullocks as symbols of fallen status and bondage and of bullocks unhitched from their carts as the soul freed from its mortal corpse. Expressions of human masculinity, through bullock-cart racing in the Deccan will also be looked into. This paper attempts to trace the journey of this mode of transportation though the various different depictions of bulls, bullocks and bullock-carts from Protohistory and History making a case for its origins, evolution, adaptation and use, including approximations of freightage. At the same time, it looks at the various cultural connotations of bulls, bullocks and bullock-carts in literature ancient and modern.What is most surprising is that though this was the prime mode of transportation in these periods and that its use was spread over almost the entire landmass of South Asia, it is not very often seen represented in contemporary art and its very ‘common’ nature has almost made it invisible to students of South Asian Art History.
Chumadutangi (Load Bearing Stone) and Pedestrian Transportation in Kerala, India
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Sasidharan, A.G.
Chumadutangi (Load Bearing Stone) is a bulky stone bench like structure used for supporting the weight of head loads while transporting from one place to another. They were constructed for the comfort of the pedestrian load bearers who carry heavy loads for longer distances. These are unique structures erected in Kerala where the landscape is undulated in most of the places and where vehicle transportation was difficult. These structures are widely seen in the hinterlands of Kerala. Many of the chumadutangi bear inscriptions mentioning the sponsor’s name, place name and other details. Chumadutangi are often associated with other amenities like vazhiyambalam (wayside shelters), tottikkal (stone troughs) and kinar (well). These are significant evidences in tracing the trade routes and understanding the role of hinterlands in supplying various goods to the markets and other larger trade centres in Kerala and vice versa. This paper discusses about the distribution pattern and regional variations of chumadutangi in Kerala and their role in movement of goods during the medieval period.
The Clues on the Silk Road in the Pali Cannon, the Commentaries and the Chronicles
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Kumara, V; Ven.Nanda, S.
The importance of the Pali Canonical and Commentarial literatures cannot be narrowed to the religious teachings only. It, indeed, incorporates the essential information that gives light on the other subjects such as culture, history, politics, etc. The issue herein is that all the scholars draw their much attention on the Vedic and the Brahmanic texts written in Sanskrit only. Yet, it should be noted that the evidences found in the Pali literature shed lights to develop the innovative research works in the humanities. The history of the Silk Road extended to both the land and sea could be re-read by referring the relevant Pali sources. In particular, the history of the land map can be revised through the information related to the trading system and the stories of the merchants come to light with the Canon. The Mahā Niddesa, the Mahā Parinibbanāsutta, the Commentary of the Udāna, the Commentary of the Petavattu, the Buddhavaṃsa and its commentary, the Milinda Pañha and the Commentary on the Dhammapada are dealing with vital evidences regarding the trading culture. Except the above sources, a few chronicles such as the Chakesa Dhātuvaṃsa, the Sāsanavaṃsa and the Nalāṭa Dhātuvaṃsa are also giving considerable facts. This paper aims to inquire what contribution could be made by the Pali sources to review the Indic history, particularly, the Silk Road. I herein would refer three sorts of literary layers related to the Pali literature only. The key method in this research will be the analytical method and in relevant arguments, the comparative method also would be applied.
Conservation and preservation of locomotive heritage in Sri Lanka
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Abeysinghe, A.
Travel and tourism is a large income generator in Sri Lanka. As such, train travel plays a significant role in promoting tourism, rendering tourists local and overseas an exceptional travelling experience as well as a multi-faceted cultural exchange. In Sri Lanka the railways network covers the scenic hill country with exceptional views of verdant hills, pristine beaches and secluded countryside. The railway network in Sri Lanka was constructed on the legendary route in the 19th century. The Viceroy Special which is a vintage steam train built to resemble trains of yesteryear is a locomotive heritage rendering travelers a unique experience of train travel, especially the hill country train ride which is considered as one of the best journeys in the world. But there are many challenges facing the conservation and preservation of locomotive heritage. As the constant movement of the railway engines and carriages will wear out original parts and will have to be replaced leading to destruction of valuable historical and technological nature of the locomotives, there should be better solutions to conserve them. Thus, there should be proper pragmatic solutions to conserve such locomotive heritages without altering the ancient outlook of the engines and carriages or else the ancient nature of such locomotives will be destroyed. In this paper, I will be looking at pragmatic solutions to conserve and preserve locomotive heritage in Sri Lanka considered a valuable heritage of the past.
Conserving Built Railway Heritage: Need for a New Approach
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Bhatawadekar, S.
Railways form an integral part of achievements of the Industrial age that changed the notions of distance, time and space, and led to progress and development. Running the railways involved huge infrastructure, including laying the railway lines to build railway stations. Railway stations today form a major aspect of built railway heritage, and manifest the intelligent combination of technology, beauty and function. New innovative techniques were adopted in constructing the stations. These stations were designed as landmarks in the city in which they were built. The study of built railway heritage is important not only as industrial heritage, but also as sites preserving cultural heritage. Many stations were built in styles of architecture current at the time and incorporated the art, aesthetic elements of the period. The significance of railway stations extends beyond the industrial and cultural heritage given the living paradigm associated with them. Many originally built stations are still in use, and have evolved over time incorporating the changing needs. The urban context surrounding these places has changed, the flow of traffic has expanded, and movement of people and goods has multiplied. The evolving nature of these places also has a role to play in shaping the significance of built railway heritage. Understanding their significance thus requires a pluralistic approach to comprehend the complexity and layering they offer. This research establishes the need for a new approach to assess significance of built railway heritage in India through a case study of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), situated in the city of Mumbai. This is hoped to form a base for future communication, management and conservation decisions for building railway heritage.
A content audit of Transport related government websites in Sri Lanka
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) De Silva, A.P.U.
Today there is a new trend to develop websites for government institutes to distribute information to the general public. Besides, the concept of e-government and e- governance have become popular at present. But many cases, the websites have a lot of weaknesses. The aim of the content audit is to perform a qualitative analysis of the content of a website and to find out its relative strengths and weakness. The main objective of the study was to find out whether the government websites provide historical information to the public throughout their websites. On the other hand, weaknesses of the website were identified. In this study, both qualitative and quantitative methodologies were applied. Mainly this is a survey research. By using desk research and website evaluation tools, primary data were collected. WAVE, Google Page Speed and Hubspot Marketing Grader used as evaluation tools for the study. There are 72 ministries under Sri Lankan government and four transport related ministries were used for evaluation. After analyzing the data and evaluating websites, it was realized that most of the transport related government websites have given less priority to publish historical information regarding those institutes. As well as there is a high demand for online services on government websites. But a very few government websites provided online services for the users. Evaluation tools are given low marks for sampled websites. In order to overcome this situation, some major moves are suggested to upgrade the rank of government websites which are, introducing a basic format for a website, following WCAG and proprietary accessibility guidelines, establishing formal web accessibility laws and guidelines, upgrading online services, recruiting a centralized post called web manager for all government institutes.
Development of Syncretic Mystical Christianity in China - A resultant of its spread by the Silk Road:-A brief comparative overview of the pattern of evangelization, the cross- influences and the result
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Johns, J.
The Silk Road which passed through Central Asia to the East- linked the West with regions like India and China, facilitating the trade of silk and other commodities like horses and tea, but as a by-product, exchange of ideas and culture too was also facilitated. As a result of various factors, Nestorian Christianity began to spread to the East, one of the routes taken was the Silk Road- thus helping Christianity to reach China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD).This Christianity had already been influenced by Greek culture and Syriac culture, and on its way to China got influenced by Zoroastrian culture- the influences were part of the syncretic culture of the caravan Silk Road. At its destination, China- Christianity was met with Indian Culture, Buddhist Culture (Mystical- Vajrayana Buddhism) and Chinese Culture- the result here again was an amalgamation of all of these cultures leading to the development of syncretic Christianity and literature which has a clear Buddhist and Mystical touch to it. Through this paper the researcher will examine the various art-archaeological evidences like the Nestorian Stele at Xian and literature called the Jesus Sutras like “the Sutra on the Origin of Origins”, “Da Qin Hymn to the Transfiguration of the Great Holy One” etc. Along with previous research done in this area. An attempt has also been made to study the pattern of evangelization on the Silk Road, segregation of the influences by the land route and other routes, the result and further cross -influences that this Syncretic Mystical Christianity had on other areas.
Epic Bridges and Legendary Cities: Theorizing the Production of Public Space in the Peninsular South
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Santiago, A.
The building of cities and the construction of bridges is a response to an ontological challenge. The challenge emerges from Space being the inevitable habitus of the social. This social imperative brings with it the possibility of a radical contemporaneity of existence. This possibility is charged with the political when responded to with the desire for history. The desire for history we find is in fact symptomatic of an ontological anxiety. And thus it is that urban spaces are inscribed with a desire for history. This paper will examine the multiple implications and imperatives this desire enlists through the analysis of urban spaces from the south of the Indian peninsula. The paper employ the spatial text of Mahisuru, the city of Mysore in Karnataka and its birth in the legend of Mahisasura and Chamundeshwari; it shall further analyze the Ramsethu bridge debate brought into the public sphere by Indian right wing Hindus in recent years. These two texts have been produced by processes that are deployed in the production of spaces and debates in the public sphere. The possibility of a radical contemporaneity of existence presents challenges that are articulated in such urban projects as the building of bridges and the production of cities. Through the analysis of these texts the paper attempts to examine the processes by which the social possibility is ambushed through the political. This paper claims that the social potential to perform a radical contemporaneity of existence is diminished by the historical turn. It will demonstrate how such a strategic turn was employed by right wing Hinduism, which sought to create a public debate over the Ramsethu Bridge to be built between India and Sri Lanka. The analysis of these urban/modern projects of building bridges and constructing cities will reveal that the historicization of legends and epics invests in an ethical and political positioning as regards the strategic uses of the dimension of Time.
Evaluations of Motor Transport law in Sri Lanka
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Kottahachchi, K.C.
Transport was an important aspect of the day today life of the ancient Sri Lankans. Since ancient times different transport facilities were used and available for the king, higher officers and the general public too. The first car to enter Sri Lanka was an 811p single Cylinder Rover automobile brought by Edgar Money in 1902 but during that time the roads were barely built.The Sri Lankan government of the 1960s decided to impose a ban on all imports in an attempt to fix the deficit of foreign exchange, which meant the importation of vehicles into the country had to stop. This was the main aim of the Veteran Car Club of Ceylon, which began in 1958 and moved on to becoming the Veteran Car Owners Club in 1987. The appreciation for older vehicles became a part of the Sri Lankan culture at that time and the oldest car in the VCOC was the Morgan Super Sport A 25 date back in 1913.In late 1970s the Sri Lankan government reversed its trade policies and imports were allowed back into the country and this included vehicles. The main reason for that was the relationship between Sri Lanka and Japan and one of the key Japanese brands that was imported then still dominates the roads today, namely, the Toyota. After the reversal of Anti Trade Law, Sri Lanka reopened its automotive trade relationship with India and started importing from TATA motors. The production of the tuk tuk by David Peiris in the late 1970s was an important contributor of the Sri Lankan automotive industry. In 1951 Sri Lanka was introduced The Motor Traffic Act no 14 for the enforcement of traffic laws and preventing violations.
Evolution of the Railway Transportation Devices in Sri Lanka: with refer to the Design Applicability and Usability for Appropriate Product Design
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Thilakarathna, K.C.M.; Ranasinghe, W.M.N.D.
Sri Lanka’s rail transportation was pioneered and developed by the Britishers after capturing the Kandyan kingdom in 1815. England was where the railway transportation emerged as a viable solution to all hindrances in travel and transport in several parts of the country, limitations of the road network, lack of transportation motilities for transporting different goods and commodities etc. Hence, this mode of transportation was hugely beneficial for Sri Lanka as well. Studying the evolution of railway transportation system and devices which exist in Sri Lanka is a much important fact in the current context due to lack of research done in this particular area of interest. As a product designer, it is vital to gain knowledge and awareness about the evolution and socio cultural context in order to create or develop product design plat forms in Sri Lanka. Automotive and locomotives are a part of product design for the development of any industry in Sri Lanka. There should be an emergence of knowledgeable people, sources of information and the inspirational expertise and studies to make important decisions. It is an interesting topic to look through for the development of transportation devices as well as product design innovation in Sri Lanka. The methodology of the research is based on grounded theory method, by analysing the primary and secondary data, as well as extracting information gathered from existing railway transportation devices by experiencing, observing and analysing aesthetics, function, materials, and ergonomics. The research data formulated main key factors to analyse and understand the transportation devices such as, product functionality, material culture, user friendliness, easy usage, practicality, and usability. The research will be beneficial to know and understand the key features to design new transportation devices and product design evolution of the railway transportation devices in Sri Lanka.
Evolution of the Railway Transportation Devices in Sri Lanka: with refer to the Design Applicability and Usability for Appropriate Product Design
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Thilakarathna, K.C.M.; Ranasinghe, W.M.N.D.
Sri Lanka’s rail transportation was pioneered and developed by the Britishers after capturing the Kandyan kingdom in 1815. England was where the railway transportation emerged as a viable solution to all hindrances in travel and transport in several parts of the country, limitations of the road network, lack of transportation motilities for transporting different goods and commodities etc. Hence, this mode of transportation was hugely beneficial for Sri Lanka as well. Studying the evolution of railway transportation system and devices which exist in Sri Lanka is a much important fact in the current context due to lack of research done in this particular area of interest. As a product designer, it is vital to gain knowledge and awareness about the evolution and socio cultural context in order to create or develop product design plat forms in Sri Lanka. Automotive and locomotives are a part of product design for the development of any industry in Sri Lanka. There should be an emergence of knowledgeable people, sources of information and the inspirational expertise and studies to make important decisions. It is an interesting topic to look through for the development of transportation devices as well as product design innovation in Sri Lanka. The methodology of the research is based on grounded theory method, by analysing the primary and secondary data, as well as extracting information gathered from existing railway transportation devices by experiencing, observing and analysing aesthetics, function, materials, and ergonomics. The research data formulated main key factors to analyse and understand the transportation devices such as, product functionality, material culture, user friendliness, easy usage, practicality, and usability. The research will be beneficial to know and understand the key features to design new transportation devices and product design evolution of the railway transportation devices in Sri Lanka.
A glance at roadscape of principal roads from Colombo to provincial towns in the mid nineteenth century Sri Lanka
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Manatunga, A.
The present study is a cursory survey on the roadscape of principal roads which have linked Colombo with provincial towns in the mid nineteenth century. There were seven principal roads from Colombo, the Capital City of Sri Lanka to provincial towns in and around the island. Some of these roads were passable by wheeled vehicles, but some of them were bridle paths which were used by horse riders and packed bull transporters. All these roads were leveled and remained as graveled roads and most of them developed as metaled roads used by mortar vehicles, at least partially, by the end of the century. Bridges were very rare over rivers and streams in these roads; hence, fords and ferries were used to cross water courses during this period. Toll stations were found usually in some of these places. Rest houses, postal stations, forts and garrisons were found in some places. Some roadside villages were transformed as bazars and townships and some places were newly developed as urban centers. Among these principal roads, the road which was known as ‘Round the island road’ linked all coastal towns with Colombo and were used by Portuguese and the Dutch who occupied the maritime provinces, prior to British. Starting from Colombo towards north, it goes to Jaffna in the North, Trincomalee and Baticaloa in the East and Hambantota, Matara and Galle in the South reaching Colombo, passing altogether 770 miles. Abandoning the traditional road from Colombo to Kandy via Hanwella and Attapitiya, a new road was constructed by British in 1821, via Mahara and Ambepussa to Kandy. This 72 miles road was the first road constructed in Sri Lanka during the British period and the present Colombo-Kandy road is a development of this road, with a few minor deviations. Apart from this road, three more roads were considered as alternative principal roads to Kandy from Colombo. One of them was the road, 84 miles via Kurunegala. Another road was 94 miles via Yatiyantota, Ginigathhena and Gampola to Kandy. The road which meets the main Kandy road at 45th mile stone, coming via Ruvanwella and Ballapana from Colombo which is 82 miles long was the third alternative road. Road to Badulla via Rathnapura and Balangoda which is 135 miles was a principal road of the mid nineteenth century. The road across the country to Trincomalee via Kurunegala and Dambulla which is 159 miles was considered only second to Colombo–Kandy main road in importance, by British during this period. A search on colonial records, photographs and remaining physical remnants will be the sources of this research which is asking for more advanced research on the subject.
Highway system in Ancient Sri Lanka
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Vidanapathirana, P.
Historical information about the ancient road network of Sri Lanka is restricted to random records encountered in historical documents and information recorded as a result of research carried out during the British administration. This study is based on a recent research conducted with special attention towards the technical aspects of the ancient road system and its expansion over the island. An attempt is also made to reconstruct the road system that existed from the third century BC up to 13th century AD. Modern research techniques are applied in identifying technical aspects and the expansion of the road system that is in discussion. Political stability, strength of the ruling power, economic prosperity and the establishment, and the spared of religious institutions contributed to the sustainability and expansion of a developed road network during the period. Technical know-how and the expertise that had been applied and made use of in constructing road system in contemporary South Asian countries could be identified within the national road network in ancient Sri Lanka too. Geographically Sri Lanka being an island, it had maintained a close relationship with several international sea routs. Hence as an infrastructural facility, a road network connecting cities and urban areas to inward places had developed. Furthermore island had maintained a close relationship with long distance sea routs that facilitated an international trade. That helped the existence of a systematic road network expanding towards regional and peripheries from the main cities.
The Historical Evolution of the Colombo: Galle (A2) Main Road
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Gunarathna, N.U.
A course/ path that is used for transportation between two or more pointsis known as a “Road”. Since the Anuradhapura Period, Sri Lankan Civilization had a road network that connected major cities with the Capital city. Several literary sources as well as archaeological evidences suggest this fact. One such significant ancient road is the Maritime Road that runs along the beaches of this island. In the Present, part of this natural trail is known as (A2) main road alias Colombo – Galle Main Road. Although the importance of the Colombo – Galle Main Road increased during the Colonial era , the usage of this road began in the Anuradhapura Period. Several literature evidences prove this fact. The objective of this research is to identify the nature of evolution of this road and recognize the factors that triggered this evolution. The historical evolution of the Colombo – Galle Main Road can be divided into four stages. They are First Stage - The period before 15th Century A.D., Second Stage – The period between 15th & 16th Century A.D., Third Stage – The period between 17th and 18th Century A.D., Fourth Stage – The period between 19th and 20th Century A.D. Interestingly, in each of these stages, road construction technology associated with this road drastically changed according to that era’s Political and Socio – Economic interests. Climatic conditions as well as the geographical features of this region also played a crucial role in determining the evolution of Colombo – Galle Main road. The Methodology of this research is mainly a literature survey, followed by a field survey. Main literary sources are Sri Lankan Pali Chronicles, Sandesa Kawya, and Colonial Records on Maritime Provinces and Travelers’ records.
A Historical Study of Palanquin Traveling in Ancient Kandy kingdom in Sri Lanka
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Yasarathna, H.B.
Human transport is the oldest mode of carrying loads from one place to another. Not only carrying goods but also humans are used to carry human beings from one place to another in Palanquins. Travelling on the shoulders of servants in a cushy palanquins were reserved for royalty and much of the nobility from Anuradhapura kingdom to Kandyan era .Palanquin is a popular travelling method among Kandyan royalties than other nobles in past kingdoms of Sri Lanka. So this research is mainly focused on Palanquin travelling system in Kandyan era. And it will be a path to make people aware about this historical method of travelling which takes a lot of values in ancient transportation sub culture in Sri Lanka. From intra-textual readings, discussions with resource persons and site visits to Kandy and Colombo national heritage museums,research has got a lot of data about the historical value of palanquin travelling in ancient Sri Lanka. Specially this research is based on some of the literarical facts from “Eda Hela Diwa” by Robert Knox, “Devi Dutu Sri Lankawa” by John David, “Journey of Spilbergen”, “Lori ge Gasert”, “Persiwel Dutu Sri Lankawa”, “Sinhala Samaja Sanvidhanaya” by Ralf Peres and some archaeological facts from Pilikuththuwa Rajamaha Viharaya, National museum Colombo and Dalada Maligawa museum in Kandy and some selected resource persons’ ideas which have closer attention with ancient transport culture in Sri Lanka. When analyzing all these facts, a large number of important incidents that are related to palanquin transport in ancient Sri Lankan kingdoms and up country area were discovered. In addition it was revealed that there was a unique traditional sub culture which was related to palanquin transportation in Kandyan kingdom. Furthermore it was perceived that there were some different types of palanquins mentioned in history books and folktales. Palanquins were a status symbol, and also the specific type of palanquin was a sign of people’s wealth and social standard in ancient Sri Lanka. Depending on the owner’s status, people used different names, materials and decorating methods for palanquins and they also added some new items and developed the palanquins time to time . When analyzing all these facts the it was evident that traveling on palanquins acts an important role in ancient transport system in Sri Lanka. So the research will make people, aware of this heritage value and it gives a huge image to the world about the unique traditional transportation in Kandy kingdom.
History and narratives of the chariot festival in the Serampore subdivision of West Bengal
(The International Conference on Land Transportation, Locomotive Heritage and Road Culture - 2017, 2017) Chatterjee, S.
Serampore is an old tract or region of Hooghly between the dry bed of the river Saraswati and Hooghly. Serampore and its adjacent areas were under the administrative control of Saptagram Government and were under the jurisdiction of ‘Chakla Bhursut’ and ‘Boro Paragana’. Later in 1753 A.D., Raja Manohar Chandra Roy, the Zaminder of Sheoraphuly, took possession of Sreepur, Mohanpur and Gopinathpur and uniting the three villages named the entire area ‘Srirampore’ after Shri Ramchandra, the Avataar of Vishnu, being worshipped by the landlords of Sheoraphuly. Mahesh, near Srerampore in Hooghly district, hosts a magnificent Rathayatra festival complete with a towering Ratha with Jagannath as one of the avataras of Vishnu. Ratha Yatra and Snan Yatra are celebrated at Mahesh every year. This worship of Vishnu in the form of Jagannath attracts teeming attention because it is one of the most vibrant ones in India, with countless passionate followers. It represents a rare instance of a tribal deity being directly and consciously elevated to the highest echelons of the Hindu pantheon, rather than enter it through the usual long stage-by-stage absorption. Jagannath's open procession strengthens mass participation, irrespective of caste and class right from the medieval period, making it an extremely popular ritual in Bengal, only after Puri. The present paper attempts to understand the history and discuss the narratives associated with the ritual. The discussion also aims to go beyond the historical narratives and draw a comparative analogy with the chariot festival in Puri. The presentation would also take into account the ethnographic documentations in order to have a more realistic view of the legends and rituals associated with the festival.