Yodha Ela
{{short description|Trans-basin diversion canal in Sri Lanka}}
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{{Infobox canal
| name = Yodha Ela
| image = Yodha Ela.jpg
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| image_caption = The Bisokotuwa of Kala wewa passes water through its Sorowwa where Yodha Ela starts.
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| date_completed = 459 AD
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| start_point = Kala Wewa
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| end_point = Tissa Wewa
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| length_km = 87
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Yoda Ela (Giant Canal) or Jaya Ganga, an {{convert|87|km|abbr=on}} long single banking water canal carrying excess water to Tissa Wewa reservoir from Kala Wewa reservoir in Anuradhapura. The Yodha Ela is known for achieving a rather low gradient for its time. The gradient is about 10 centimetres per kilometre or 6 inches per mile.{{Cite web|url=https://www.srilanka.travel/www.srilanka.travel/yoda-ela|title=Sri Lanka Tourism - The Official Website of Sri Lanka Tourism|website=www.srilanka.travel}}{{cite web|title=Kala Wewa and the Aukana Buddha Statue|date=28 September 2018|url=http://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2018/09/30/yv/kala-wewa-and-aukana-buddha-statue}}{{cite journal |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305784654 |doi=10.4038/engineer.v42i3.7045|title=From the Editor Vol.42(3) |year=2009 |last1=Pallewatta |first1=T. M. |journal=Engineer: Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka |volume=42 |issue=3 |doi-access=free }}
Construction
Yodha Ela was constructed during King Dhatusena's reign in 459 AD. It is {{convert|87|km|abbr=on}} long.{{Cite web|url=http://www.irrigation.gov.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=301&Itemid=161&lang=en|title=Ancient Irrigation}} It is a trans-basin diversion canal transferring water from Kala Oya Basin to Malwathu Oya Basin. It has a gradient of the order of {{convert|0.32|m|ft|abbr=on}} drop along {{convert|1.61|km|mi|abbr=on}}. Even with modern day survey equipment it would be difficult to achieve such accuracy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/60726654/Yodha-Ela|title=Yodha Ela | PDF | Water Resources | Dam|website=Scribd}}
Yodha Ela not only feeds Tissa Wewa, but also the nearby Abhaya Wewa and Nuwara Wewa. A separate branch of the canal has then already brought water to the Nachchaduwa wewa.[https://amazinglanka.com/wp/kala-wewa-and-jaya-ganga/ Kala Wewa and Yodha Ela (Jaya Ganga) - An irrigation wonder of Ancient Sinhalese], AmazingLanka.com, retrieved 28 January 2022
King Parakramabahu who reigned the country from 1153 to 1186, expanded the area that contributed to the water in the canal by connecting more reservoirs to the network between Kala Wawa and Thissa Wawa. He then renamed it Jaya Ganga (River of Victory).
Functions
Yodha Ela functions in a way of a moving reservoir because of its single banking aspect which is different from the present day double banking irrigation canals'. It feeds water in an area of {{convert|470|sqkm|sqmi|abbr=on}} feeding {{convert|4,630|ha|acres|abbr=on}} of paddy lands and 120 small tanks on its way from Kala Wewa to Tissa Wewa{{cite book|title=Outlines of Ceylon History|isbn = 9788120613638|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cDwvQF_OgvMC&q=yodha+ela&pg=PA77|last1 = Obeyesekere|first1 = Donald|year = 1999}}
See also
References
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{{Inland waters of Sri Lanka|state=collapsed}}
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