“STORIES OF ANCIENT CEYLON”(Series)
by Desmond Kelly
Around the middle of the twelfth century, a prince of great physical & mental vigor came into power at an area once known as Pulatthi, now much better known as Polonnaruwa, about sixteen miles south-east of another famous old area named Minneriya.
Parakrama Bahu (A.D.1153-1186) was born in Ruhuna,
(the south of the Island), where the Sinhalese had retreated to, after being thoroughly weakened by repeated “invasions” by the Southern Indians who obviously wanted to add this little jewel into the crown of Mother-India. Even as a boy, young Parakrama was not satisfied that Kings of “his people” had to live on the borders of their own kingdom. How many times were they going to give-in to other conquerers and take second place in a Country that was their own. He couldn’t understand this, and being a prince himself, determined to do something about it.
In time, Parakrama did become “King” They called him “Maha-Parakrama” or, better known to us as Parakrama-Bahu. In time, he would also become one of the greatest Rulers of ancient Ceylon.
King Parakramabahu’s initial plan for his beloved Country was to ensure that not a single drop of water was to be wasted and left to run back into the Indian Ocean. Elaborate irrigation systems (for the time) were brought into being by this great Ruler, rice-paddies began to grow and provide more food for the people.
King Parakramabahu had his Countrymen “working” & at the same time, filling their bellies with the grain that turned out to be the “foremost-food” on the Planet for millions of people. The saving of water in Lanka started with this great man & some of the ancient irrigation systems thought up by Sinhalese Kings of old would put to shame most irrigation systems of modern times. They were built to last & most of them still do. This then, was the beginning of thr reign of King Parakramabahu (the great) ,to be continued.
Desmond Kelly.
Star of eLanka.
P.S. Any “typo-errors” regretted. D.K.
