Pristine Polonnaruwa

Nilma DOLE

Polonnaruwa has the privilege of being the model civilization where the unity of various religions along with marvellous architecture and irrigation canals have been world wonders.

Today, this ancient city has been nearly forgotten by domestic travellers and tourists alike for they don’t really add Polonnaruwa into their itinerary, thinking it’s too close to the northern part of Sri Lanka subject to terrorist attacks.

However, this is not true for Polonnaruwa, once succeeding Anuradhapura as the capital of Sri Lanka at the end of the 10th century, is still protected like the yore days of King Parakramabahu (12th century) making it a must-see site in any trip.

Under the vision of the Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda, it was decided at a special Council meeting that it was vital to regain the lost glory of Polonnaruwa that will prove beneficial to its town.

The Director General of the Central Cultural Fund, Prof Sudharshan Seneviratne said: “Polonnaruwa is a sacred place because it unites not only Buddhist and Hindus but we can also see an Arab connection as there were many traders who used to frequent the marketplaces”.

Being a place of religious diversity, Polonnaruwa was under the Hindu Tamils in the 13th century before it became deserted. People flocked from all parts of the island to receive blessings from the great Hindu Shrine of Siva Devale who is a renowned god of fertility.

Prof Seneviratne added, “We can see this rings true for the pure essence of ‘Gal Viharaya’ unites all aspects of Buddhism which might be controversial but it still is admired for its amazing craftsmanship.”

Sri Lanka Conventions Bureau General Manager Vipula Wanigesekera said, “In a bid to regain the lost glory of Polonnaruwa, we will coordinate with the Central Cultural Fund to help hold a religious festival to boost the economy and give a helping hand to the people of Pollonaruwa.”

He said that not only were they looking at targeting the domestic travellers and pilgrims but also tourists to spark off interest.

Asoka Perera of the Sri Lanka Promotions Bureau said that any visitor needs at least three days to have a full sight of Polonnaruwa. “You need an experienced tour guide with a degree preferably with history as the major subjects to show you around,” he said.

The Polonnaruwa District Secretary Nimal Abeysiri said, “We will also do more work on enlightening visitors on how they can help preserve and conserve our religious sites without damaging our national treasures.”

He said that there might be a demand for more facilities during the peak season but Polonnaruwa is geared for that. “We are presently working on infrastructure and planning so that meditation areas can be accessible for visitors so we hope we have the fullest cooperation of the public to revive Polonnaruwa,” he said.

Additional Divisional Secretary Panditha Ratnayake said, “Every year for Poson Poya, we have seven small peraheras that join to form the grand pageant which unites all the temples in Polonnaruwa making it lively and colourful in its own way.”

He further stated that nearly 3000 people observe sil during Poson but it is good if the numbers were consistent and were better.

Sudarshan Seneviratne, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Peradeniya, said: “Previously, the ‘Ancient Avenue’ together with major parts of the ancient sights were lit up offering a festive atmosphere. Hence it is imperative to bring back the true spirit of Polonnaruwa which culminates into the yore days of the kings who really shaped Sri Lanka’s history.”

The Most Venerable Venderuwe Sri Upahara Thera said that this religious festival should bring pilgrims from all over the country and possibly the whole world where religions can unite through togetherness and unity.

“We need to unite our country right now with religious observances and meditation because true peace is in the mind, as the Buddha preached” concluded the Most Venerable Sri Upahara Thera.

Parakrama Samudraya needs:

Protection

The ancient city of Polonnaruwa, home to the great Parakrama Samudraya which has a long history, is an ancient, large, shallow, man-made impoundment created for irrigation purposes by King Parakrama Bahu the Great (1153 -1186 AD) by damming the Amban Ganga.

The present reservoir is a result of the three original reservoirs being connected. The reservoir is divided into three basins by chains of islands and even at high water levels these three basins maintain a distinct limnological identity.

It has an extensive littoral fringe and large areas that are less than 1m in depth, which therefore provide important habitat for freshwater fishes. The oldest one is at the northernmost part, Topa Wewa that was built around 386 AD.

The middle part, Eramudu Wewa and the southern part, Dumbutulla Wewa were constructed during the reign of King Parakramabahu (1153 -1186 AD) during which period the ancient irrigation system experienced its optimum development.

The water level of the reservoir shows strong seasonal fluctuations and therefore the ecological character of the marginal habitats also changes continuously.

During the dry season these areas are covered with terrestrial vegetation. The phytoplankton assemblage (84 species) in the water body is characterized by green algae (30 species), blue-green algae (22 species), and diatoms and the abundance of species varies according to the amount of rainfall experienced.

The fish fauna of the reservoir is dominated by exotic fish species like Oreochromis mossambicus, Aristichthys nobilis, Cirrhinus cirrhosus and Labeo rohita which are among the most commonly harvested food fish species.

The reservoir being a large aquatic body is an ideal habitat for water birds, where large numbers of cormorants are regularly encountered. As a result of invasions, the Polonnaruwa kingdom was deserted and then the bed of the lake was covered with jungle.

In 1945, the dam was reconstructed and the lake was filled once again. However, illegal timber felling and poaching are major threats while illegal gem mining in the Amban Ganga area also occurs.

The wetland area is being encroached by villagers especially those who pollute it by taking daily baths and washing their clothes. Fishermen using illegal nets and over fishing the tank pose a threat to the local fishery.

The spread of invasive alien species such as Lantana camara is also problematic. Discharge of sewage and agrochemical residues have resulted in eutrophic condition, leading algal blooms.

The Parakrama Samudraya and its surroundings are popular destinations amongst the tourists due to its high historical and cultural value. Many tourists engage in bird watching activities around the tank while others hire boats and take excursions.

The only conservation measure taken is that part of the catchment of this reservoir is located within the Angammadilla National Park that was declared a sanctuary in 2006.

We need to protect our great national heritage before it’s too late for this is the gift given by our ancestors.

Magnificance

I was immersed in leisure,
When I walked amid the garden
of pleasure,
Built by great King Nissankamalla,
Who called it an ‘Island Garden’
or Dipuyyana.
Making it a great historical
treasure!

I daydreamed of King
Parakramabahu in his finery,
Sitting on his golden throne
with guards in livery,
His ‘Ocean of Parakrama’,
Was such an insignia,
That we still admire his
intelligence in spite of his rivalry.

Polonnaruwa is a sacred site
with ‘Gal Vihara’ and
‘Lankatileke Vihara’
Housing ‘Pothgul, Rankoth, and
Kiri Vehera’, With ‘Vatadage’, ‘Atadage’,
and ‘Hetadage’,For it is home for the
‘Alana Pirivena’and Satmala Prasada’,
‘Medirigiriya’, ‘Somavati Caityaya’,
‘Dimbulagala’ and ‘Galpotha’ with
stunning sculptures.

- Nilma