Padaviya tank was built by King Mahasen (3 AD). There is evidence that two sluices were there before rehabilitation, and the tank bund had broken from two locations. This tank was done during the Mahasen king’s era and rehabilitated during Maha Parakramabahu King’s era.

Padaviya tank is sited in a flat area of agricultural plain & sanctuary zone, and the tank has a catchment area of 53871 ha. Padaviya dam is homogeneous with a length of approximately 4600 m and a maximum height of 9.7 m.

Padaviya Wewa, one of the important historical irrigation sites, is a “must travel” place and should be on the itinerary of those who love archaeological wonders and nature. It has been identified as Ratmalkandawaapi during King Mahasen's reign, Dhanawaapi during King Moggalana's reign and Padeewaapi during King Parakramabahu I reign. Historians have further recorded Padaviya Wewa as Ratmalkatiya, Mahakulunawa, Padvidora or Mah Padaviya at different times. Since the exact history of this reservoir has not been recorded anywhere yet, it should be a research topic for those interested. However, there is evidence that agriculture was practised under Padaviya reservoir during the previously mentioned reigns. An inscription by King Nissankamalla has declared the Padaviya reservoir area as a sanctuary, and catching fish and hunting all the living beings had been prohibited.

Henry Parker, an Irrigation Engineer who has done a thorough survey of the remnants, has stated the following in his sessional paper of XXIII of 1886; “Although the largest, Padaviya is probably the least known of all the great reservoirs of the island. The general ignorance regarding it is doubtless due to the difficulty of approaching it, for not only is it situated in the little-known North-eastern corner of the North-Central Province, but also surrounded by a wide tract of dense forest which, except in the south-eastern part, is totally inhabitant. “He further records that the bricks that were used for sluice construction were similar to those used during King Mahasen, and he cautions us that the bricks of that era might have also been used but at a later stage.

The reservoir was formed by damming the two tributaries of Ma Oya, namely Mora-Oya and Makuna_oya. Even though many surveys and investigations were done by Irrigation Department after Parkers’ report, restoration of the reservoir and system was taken place only during the 1954-1960 period. It would have been made possible because of the colonization policy of D.S. Senanayake and the priority given by the then government to irrigation development under the second Six-Year Development Plan of 1954-1960.

While restoring the reservoir, repair of the breaching sections of the reservoir embankment, construction of a new sluice and a canal system, provision of radial gates, expansion of the natural spill and clearing of the forest for land development and settlement were attended. The current capacity of the reservoir is 85,000 Ac ft, which is more than the capacity of ancient works. That was achieved by raising the embankment and the spill. When the reservoir is at spill level, it inundates 6500 acres of land. The total length of the two main canals is 48 km, and those two serve 43 distributary and field canals. The government spends a considerable amount of funds annually for the operation and maintenance of the system.

Restoration of Padaviya Irrigation settlement schemes was a gigantic project since it covered the provision of all infrastructure facilities for the settlers, including housing, the access road from Anuradhapura, internal roads, hospitals, schools and the urban facilities.

Annual rainfall is 1500 – 2500 mm, and the average temperature is around 300 C in the Padaviya area. The North-East monsoon is activated in the period October - January, but for the rest of the year, this area is suffering from a dry situation. The catchment area of Padaviya tank is done a great service by providing food and habitats to the animals. This area has been declared a wildlife sanctuary.

Padaviya tank is issuing water for paddy fields in the Padaviya irrigation scheme. In addition, this tank is utilized for domestic purposes as well as fishery industries.

The structure represents a milestone / turning points in development of irrigated agriculture and bears an exceptional testimony to development of agriculture and increase in food production along with the improvement of economic condition of farmers;

There are no records to indicate who built the tank, but historians have ascribed the original construction to king Saddhatissa (137-119 BC) and King Mahasena (276-303). Excavation carried out in the mid-1900s by Mr. D.T. Devendra, Assistant Archaeological Commissioner has supported the view that King Mahasena was the original constructor of the tank. But Pujavaliya's ancient text credits King Saddhatissa for building ‘Padi’ and several other tanks. There are strong indications that ‘padi’ refers to the current-day Padaviya Tank. An ancient pillar inscription on the bund of Padaviya Tank proudly proclaims, “By Sri Parakrama Bahu, the Sovereign Lord of Sri Lanka, who is concerned with doing good to the world, has this been constructed”.

Although this pillar proclaims that King Parakramabahu I (1153-1186) was the builder, it has been concluded that the tank is much older, and king Parakramabahu probably would have carried out extensive renovations or expansions to the existing tank.

Padaviya tank is formed by an embankment across Ma Oya. The ancient bisokotuwa (Sluice) is situated 2000 feet east of the spill. It consists of a stone tower of 10.5 sq. feet with two inlet openings 2 feet long and 5 feet high on the tank side, leading it to a twin conduit with tapering barrels 160 feet long. At the end of the barrel is a five-hooded cobra rock carving which is usually found on most tanks. The upstream wall of the Bisokotuwa has several boundary stones with projecting parts sculptured to be in the form of Elephant Heads. A 1000-foot-long solid rock outcrop on the western side has been used as the spillway. The tank has been designed in such a way that the rock bed lies approximately at the full supply height of the tank.

In the northeastern part of the North Central Province, there are two large ancient irrigation tanks – Padaviya Wewa and Vahalkada Wewa. Of these, Padaviya has commanded more attention, perhaps because of the traditional belief that it was the largest of the ancient tanks.

Many colonial administrators undertook the arduous journey to see this tank and were duly impressed by the ruins of the ancient work. Governor Sir Henry Ward (1797–1860) described it as the “most gigantic of all works” and estimated that “its construction must have occupied million people for 10-15 years”. Sir Emerson Tennent (1804–1869), who had written a number of books on then Ceylon was so impressed with the sluice, for he reported, “the existing sluice is a very remarkable work, not merely from its dimensions but from the ingenuity and excellence of the workmanship”. It was however, Henry Parker, who was attached to the Irrigation Department from 1873 to 1904, carried out a detailed inspection of the work in 1886 and recorded his findings.

The structure contributed to the evolution of efficient and contemporary engineering theories and practices;

There are no records to indicate who built the tank, but historians have ascribed the original construction to king Saddhatissa (137-119 BC) and King Mahasena (276-303). Excavation carried out in the mid-1900s by Mr. D.T. Devendra, Assistant Archaeological Commissioner has supported the view that King Mahasena was the original constructor of the tank. But Pujavaliya's ancient text credits King Saddhatissa for building ‘Padi’ and several other tanks. There are strong indications that ‘padi’ refers to the current-day Padaviya Tank. An ancient pillar inscription on the bund of Padaviya Tank proudly proclaims, “By Sri Parakrama Bahu, the Sovereign Lord of Sri Lanka, who is concerned with doing good to the world, has this been constructed”.

Although this pillar proclaims that King Parakramabahu I (1153-1186) was the builder, it has been concluded that the tank is much older, and king Parakramabahu probably would have carried out extensive renovations or expansions to the existing tank.

Padaviya tank is formed by an embankment across Ma Oya. The ancient bisokotuwa (Sluice) is situated 2000 feet east of the spill. It consists of a stone tower of 10.5 sq. feet with two inlet openings 2 feet long and 5 feet high on the tank side, leading it to a twin conduit with tapering barrels 160 feet long. At the end of the barrel is a five-hooded cobra rock carving which is usually found on most tanks. The upstream wall of the Bisokotuwa has several boundary stones with projecting parts sculptured to be in the form of Elephant Heads. A 1000-foot-long solid rock outcrop on the western side has been used as the spillway. The tank has been designed in such a way that the rock bed lies approximately at the full supply height of the tank.

In the northeastern part of the North Central Province, there are two large ancient irrigation tanks – Padaviya Wewa and Vahalkada Wewa. Of these, Padaviya has commanded more attention, perhaps because of the traditional belief that it was the largest of the ancient tanks.

Many colonial administrators undertook the arduous journey to see this tank and were duly impressed by the ruins of the ancient work. Governor Sir Henry Ward (1797–1860) described it as the “most gigantic of all works” and estimated that “its construction must have occupied million people for 10-15 years”. Sir Emerson Tennent (1804–1869), who had written a number of books on then Ceylon was so impressed with the sluice, for he reported, “the existing sluice is a very remarkable work, not merely from its dimensions but from the ingenuity and excellence of the workmanship”. It was however, Henry Parker, who was attached to the Irrigation Department from 1873 to 1904, carried out a detailed inspection of the work in 1886 and recorded his findings.

The structure was unique in some positive and constructive way;

There are no records to indicate who built the tank, but historians have ascribed the original construction to king Saddhatissa (137-119 BC) and King Mahasena (276-303). Excavation carried out in the mid-1900s by Mr. D.T. Devendra, Assistant Archaeological Commissioner has supported the view that King Mahasena was the original constructor of the tank. But Pujavaliya's ancient text credits King Saddhatissa for building ‘Padi’ and several other tanks. There are strong indications that ‘padi’ refers to the current-day Padaviya Tank. An ancient pillar inscription on the bund of Padaviya Tank proudly proclaims, “By Sri Parakrama Bahu, the Sovereign Lord of Sri Lanka, who is concerned with doing good to the world, has this been constructed”.

Although this pillar proclaims that King Parakramabahu I (1153-1186) was the builder, it has been concluded that the tank is much older, and king Parakramabahu probably would have carried out extensive renovations or expansions to the existing tank.

Padaviya tank is formed by an embankment across Ma Oya. The ancient bisokotuwa (Sluice) is situated 2000 feet east of the spill. It consists of a stone tower of 10.5 sq. feet with two inlet openings 2 feet long and 5 feet high on the tank side, leading it to a twin conduit with tapering barrels 160 feet long. At the end of the barrel is a five-hooded cobra rock carving which is usually found on most tanks. The upstream wall of the Bisokotuwa has several boundary stones with projecting parts sculptured to be in the form of Elephant Heads. A 1000-foot-long solid rock outcrop on the western side has been used as the spillway. The tank has been designed in such a way that the rock bed lies approximately at the full supply height of the tank.

In the northeastern part of the North Central Province, there are two large ancient irrigation tanks – Padaviya Wewa and Vahalkada Wewa. Of these, Padaviya has commanded more attention, perhaps because of the traditional belief that it was the largest of the ancient tanks.

Many colonial administrators undertook the arduous journey to see this tank and were duly impressed by the ruins of the ancient work. Governor Sir Henry Ward (1797–1860) described it as the “most gigantic of all works” and estimated that “its construction must have occupied million people for 10-15 years”. Sir Emerson Tennent (1804–1869), who had written a number of books on then Ceylon was so impressed with the sluice, for he reported, “the existing sluice is a very remarkable work, not merely from its dimensions but from the ingenuity and excellence of the workmanship”. It was however, Henry Parker, who was attached to the Irrigation Department from 1873 to 1904, carried out a detailed inspection of the work in 1886 and recorded his findings.

The structure bears the stamp of a cultural tradition or a civilization of past;

There are no records to indicate who built the tank, but historians have ascribed the original construction to king Saddhatissa (137-119 BC) and King Mahasena (276-303). Excavation carried out in the mid-1900s by Mr. D.T. Devendra, Assistant Archaeological Commissioner has supported the view that King Mahasena was the original constructor of the tank. But Pujavaliya's ancient text credits King Saddhatissa for building ‘Padi’ and several other tanks. There are strong indications that ‘padi’ refers to the current-day Padaviya Tank. An ancient pillar inscription on the bund of Padaviya Tank proudly proclaims, “By Sri Parakrama Bahu, the Sovereign Lord of Sri Lanka, who is concerned with doing good to the world, has this been constructed”.

Although this pillar proclaims that King Parakramabahu I (1153-1186) was the builder, it has been concluded that the tank is much older, and king Parakramabahu probably would have carried out extensive renovations or expansions to the existing tank.

Padaviya tank is formed by an embankment across Ma Oya. The ancient bisokotuwa (Sluice) is situated 2000 feet east of the spill. It consists of a stone tower of 10.5 sq. feet with two inlet openings 2 feet long and 5 feet high on the tank side, leading it to a twin conduit with tapering barrels 160 feet long. At the end of the barrel is a five-hooded cobra rock carving which is usually found on most tanks. The upstream wall of the Bisokotuwa has several boundary stones with projecting parts sculptured to be in the form of Elephant Heads. A 1000-foot-long solid rock outcrop on the western side has been used as the spillway. The tank has been designed in such a way that the rock bed lies approximately at the full supply height of the tank.

In the northeastern part of the North Central Province, there are two large ancient irrigation tanks – Padaviya Wewa and Vahalkada Wewa. Of these, Padaviya has commanded more attention, perhaps because of the traditional belief that it was the largest of the ancient tanks.

Many colonial administrators undertook the arduous journey to see this tank and were duly impressed by the ruins of the ancient work. Governor Sir Henry Ward (1797–1860) described it as the “most gigantic of all works” and estimated that “its construction must have occupied million people for 10-15 years”. Sir Emerson Tennent (1804–1869), who had written a number of books on then Ceylon was so impressed with the sluice, for he reported, “the existing sluice is a very remarkable work, not merely from its dimensions but from the ingenuity and excellence of the workmanship”. It was however, Henry Parker, who was attached to the Irrigation Department from 1873 to 1904, carried out a detailed inspection of the work in 1886 and recorded his findings.

Engineering utility vis-à-vis designed utility

Padaviya reservoir belongs to the Anuradhapura irrigation region, and it is located in Padaviya divisional secretariat division in the Anuradhapura district in North Central Province. The maximum capacity of the Padaviya reservoir is 105 MCM. It serves 6000 hectares of paddy land, and its catchment area is 53871 hectares. The spill tail canal called Ma Oya discharges along a 35 km long canal into the Kookilai lagoon. It compromises a gated section with two no’s of radial gates together with an ungated CO type section.

Present State of Conservation

• Padaviya was rehabilitated under Dam Safety and Water Resources Planning Project (DSWRPP), funded by World Bank. Identified Major rehabilitation by DSWRPP are such as Renovation of rip rap, Strengthening of the dam, Establishment of bathing steps, Establishment of tor filter & toe drain, Installation of piezometers on d/s slope of the dam, Installation of levelling monuments. Installation of boundary stones. 10 Steps passing over the rehabilitation process are mentioned below;

• Environmental Assessment and Environmental Management Plans (EMP) were cleared by both World Bank and Central Environmental Authority (CEA).

• Awareness programmes were conducted at the district level to aware stakeholders of rehabilitation programmes.

• Dam Construction Monitoring Committee was established to monitor the entire rehabilitation process.

• Final conceptual designs for the dam were submitted by the Implementation Support Consultant.

• Inspection boat, Digital camera, Bush cutter, Tirfort wincher, Chain saw Desktop computer and software, printer, Generator, Inspection boat and safety jackets were provided to the dam office to improve the Operation & Maintenance and capacity to ensure the safety of the Dam.

• A remedial work contract worth Rs 128 million was awarded on 26th May 2016.

• The dam construction Monitoring (Oversight) Committee was established and held several meetings to monitor the entire rehabilitation process.

• EMP has been implemented by the contractor and monitoring by Project Management Unit (PMU).

• Construction was successfully completed in the year 2017.