The ownerless Wewa in Mahiyanganaya

Colombo (News 1st): The Wewa represents the magnum opus of the advanced irrigation technology of ancient Sri Lanka. 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. However, currently, many of her creations have been abandoned and have not been renovated in years maybe decades. 'Uda Wewa' in Sithuna, Mahiyanganaya is one of them. According to locals, the Wewa was once used to wash equipment used by the 'Bulatha Yodaya' during his construction of the 'Sora Bora Wewa'. Evidence shown on the gateway dates 1888.11.11 as the last day it was renovated. Representatives of farmer organizations in the area note that they need to restore the tank, however, when they arrived at the Irrigations Department they were informed that they do not have right as the owners of the Wewa are yet to be found to restore the tank. The Farmers 'Organization requests for the necessary permission to renovate the Wewa. The note that if they receive it they will restore the Wewa with the use of their Farmers' Organization Fund.