Research report on Gammadda Wewin Wewata launched

Colombo (News1st): The report compiled on the findings made during the Gammadda Wewen-Wewata Initiative’ was launched this evening (September 20) at the University of Peradeniya. This report was prepared by the Gammadda Team together with a panel of expert university researchers. Phase I of the ‘Wewen-Wewata Initiative’ in December last year focused on the Bellankadawala Cascade System and the Palugaswewa Cascade System, situated within the Malwatu-Oya basin. Sri Lanka’s ancient hydraulic civilization has been widely recognized as perhaps the finest in the world. Her sophisticated network of small tanks, canals and larger reservoirs served her people for many thousands of years and ran into ruin only over the past one hundred years or so. Phase II began in January this years and following which the compilation of the report began. The study included scientific Geo-mapping of all Wewa's or Tanks and Canals in the Cascade system. Incidentally, the Sri Lankan agrarian system, the ‘ellanga gammana’ or cascaded tank-village system in the dry zone was designated as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System by UNESCO. Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya Upul Dissanayake, Doctors, Professors of the University, intellectuals, Group Director of the Capital Maharaja Organization Chevan Daniel, Director/General Manager of Newsfirst Yasarath Kamalsiri, Gammedda officials and villagers of Bellankadawela attended the report launch. The Wewen Wewa report was handed over to the Gammadda team by the vice chancellor of the University of Peradeniya Professor Upul Dissanayake. The Gammadda Wewen Wewa website was launched at the event and the theme song of the project was also released.