The ancient Sri Lankan people, which consisted of Sinhalese and Sri Lankan Tamils excelled in the construction of tanks (Wevas) or reservoirs, dagobas (or stupas), Hindu temples and palaces in Sri Lanka, as evident from the ruins which displays a rich variety of architectural forms.
Irrigation works
Major irrigation schemes of Sri Lanka, as evident from the earliest written records in the Mahawansa, date back to the fourth century BCE (Parker, 1881; Brohier, 1934). The purpose and determination in the construction of the irrigation systems are depicted by the words of Parakrama Bahu I, 1153–1186 CE: "Let not even a drop of rain water go to the sea without benefiting man".
The Sri Lankan chronicle, the Culavamsa which was written in the Buddhist canonical language Pali, enumerates his works both as a provincial ruler in western Sri Lanka and later as the monarch of the whole country: he either built or restored 163 major tanks (reservoirs), 2,617 minor tanks, 3,910 irrigation channels, 328 stone sluices and 168 sluice blocks, besides repairing 1,969 breaches in embankments. Among the reservoirs he built was the tank at Polonnaruwa, called on account of its size the Parakrama Samudra (translation: Sea of Parakrama). With an area of and an enclosing embankment long, it irrigated nearly .
The final achievements were highlighted by Sir Henry Ward, Governor of Ceylon:
Reservoirs
A wealth of river basin-based water heritage is abundant in Sri Lanka. Reservoirs of Sri Lanka are different from the water tanks seen in ancient civilisations or bodies of water collected for purposes such as generation of electricity or supplying water for consumption.
Tanks are locally termed Weva (plural: Wew).
Viji Wewa
Ridiyagama
Badagiriya
Muruthawela
Hurulu weva
Abhayavapi tank
Mamaduwa Wewa
Angamuwa Wewa
Bandagiriya Wewa
Basawakkulama Wewa (Abaya Wewa) Bathalagoda Wewa Debara Wewa Erupothana Wewa Giritale Wewa Iratperiyakulama Wewa Kala Wewa Kande Ela Reservoir Kandy Lake (Nuwara Weva) Kantale Wewa Kaudulla Wewa Kondawattuwana Wewa Lunugamwehera Mahagala Wewa Mahakanadarawa Wewa Mahavilachchiya Wewa Minneriya Tank Mutukelina Wewa Nachchaduwa wewa Nuwara Wewa (Anuradhapura} Padaviya Wewa Panda Wewa Parakrama Samudraya or Sea of Parakrama Pavakkulama Wewa Sorabora Wewa Tabbowa Wewa Thuruwila Wewa Tissa Wewa (Anuradhapura) Tissa Wewa (Tissamaharama) Urusita Wewa Siyambalangamuwa Wewa Vavunikulama Wewa Weerawila Wewa Wilpita Wewa / Lenabatuwa Wewa Yoda Wewa (Mannar) Yoda Wewa (Tissamaharama) Kuda Vilachchiya Wewa
Stupas of ancient Sri Lanka
The dagobas, or stupas, are distinctive for many reasons. They are probably the largest brick structures known to the pre-modern world. Demala Maha Seya, which was never completed, had a circumference of . Jetavanaramaya is the largest stupa constructed in any part of the world. It is over in height and has a diameter of . The foundation is deep. The deepest-known foundation of the ancient world. It needed bricks that could bear the load of . Jetavanaramaya was the third-tallest building in the ancient world. Abhayagiri () ranked fifth and Ruwanwelisaya () came seventh. The first, fourth, and sixth places were held by the pyramids.
Ruwanwelisaya
Thuparamaya
Ridi Vihara
Lovamahapaya
Abhayagiri Dagaba
Jetavanarama
Mirisaveti Stupa
Lankarama
Isurumuniya
Rathna Prasadaya
Dakkhina Stupa
Sela Cetiya
Naka Vihara
Kiribath Vehera
Pubbarama
Tapovana
Hindu Temples of ancient Sri Lanka
The Pancha Ishwarams (five abodes of Shiva) are five coastal ancient kovils (temples) built in dedication to the Hindu supreme being Ishwara in the form of the god Shiva, located along the circumference of Sri Lanka.
These complexes were highly praised by scholars and historians since the antiquity. The most impressive of these five magnificent and decorated temple complexes was the Tenavaram temple. Built on vaulted arches on the promontory overlooking the Indian Ocean. The central gopuram tower of the vimana and the other gopura towers that dominated the town were covered with plates of gilded brass, gold and copper on their roofs. Its outer body featured intricately carved domes, with elaborate arches and gates opening to various verandas and shrines of the complex, giving Tenavaram the appearance of a golden city to sailors who visited the port to trade and relied on its light reflecting gopura roofs for navigational purposes.