Panda Wewa – The First man made Reservoir in the World
Kottambapitiya Wewa, previously known as Panda Wewa, is located near the Ancient Kingdom of Panduwasnuwara and can be accessed from Negambo-Chillaw or Kurunegala. Although there is no direct mention of the tank's origins in ancient texts, it is believed to have been built by King Panduwasdeva in 450 BC for irrigation and daily use by the citizens of Panduwasnuwara. The 14th-century manuscript "Pradhana Nuwarawal" provides a detailed description of the city and the tank built by the king.
H. Parker's publication "Ancient Ceylon" in 1909 suggests that the tank may have been the first great reservoir ever constructed, excluding the great lakes of Egypt, as it required advanced knowledge of brick-making, stone-cutting, and masonry construction to create a dam and a sluice to regulate the water flow. The purpose of the tank was not just for the use of the city's inhabitants, but also for irrigating rice lands downstream.
King Pandukabhaya, who became king at the end of the fourth cent...
H. Parker's publication "Ancient Ceylon" in 1909 suggests that the tank may have been the first great reservoir ever constructed, excluding the great lakes of Egypt, as it required advanced knowledge of brick-making, stone-cutting, and masonry construction to create a dam and a sluice to regulate the water flow. The purpose of the tank was not just for the use of the city's inhabitants, but also for irrigating rice lands downstream.
King Pandukabhaya, who became king at the end of the fourth cent...
