Ancient Marvels: The reservoirs and the irrigation canals of Sri Lanka

The greatness of the irrigation systems of Sri Lanka is summed up in the University History of Ceylon: "the construction of reservoirs originated from the meagre knowledge the Indo-Aryan settlers had. From this basic elementary knowledge, there developed later the greatest engineering skill exhibited in the ancient Sinhalese Kingdom namely the progressive building up of a colossal and complex system of interrelated dams, canals and tanks, mingling the waters of rivers flowing in different directions;

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Egypt under Amitabh Bachchan's spell

It is not only in India that Amitabh Bachchan is "Big B", an unparalleled icon of the masses, he has cast his spell over far-away Egypt too. Whether it is a taxi driver in metropolitan Cairo or a rustic farmer toiling on the banks of the river Nile in Aswan, there is one strand running through them all - a craze for "Amitabachaan."

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