water pressure generated naturally is to change
the diameter of the holes in the stone splinter,
which has been fixed to the place where pressure
is created. The water stream goes up more due to
the high pressure created by the hole with a small
diameter and the water stream goes up only a
little as comparatively a lesser pressure is given
by the hole with a bigger diameter. The system
of gutters in the Sigiriya water park have been
made spirally in a way which makes water flow
for a long distance in a low slope by allowing
the alluvial, which mixes with water when water
flows down from the top of the Sigiriya rock, to
sink down with the help of natural gravitation
power. Stone splinters have been kept in several
places in the gutters to remove the alluvial which
gathers in the rainy season. When heavy rains
fall in Sigiriya, one can see water fountains work
automatically even today.
5.2.2 Architecture
Many details of the ancient architecture are
found when the ruins in Anuradhapura and
Polonnaruwa kingdoms are examined. That
displays to us how different artisans in the ancient
time had made great architectural creations. You
will study some of the best architectural creations
here.
Architecture – Many architectural creations
such as Buddhist constructions, Stupas,
Bodhigharas, Pilimageval, shrines, monasteries,
alms halls, meditating cells, palaces, fortresses,
and hospitals found from Anuradhapura and
Polonnaruwa eras could be seen.
Those evidences show us that there were
buildings from the ancient time in this country.
Very advanced scientific knowledge and a
training on technology would need to put that
scientific knowledge into practice in constructing
the buildings found in Anuradhapura such as
Jethvanaramaya, Abhayagiriya, Ruwanweli Seya,
and several storeyed Lovamahapaya. For example
Ruwanweli Seya and the other Stupas, built in
Anuradhapura in the North Central dry zone in
Sri Lanka which gets heavy monsoon rains, may
be vulnerable to lightning strikes at any time. But,
there are neither historical nor archaeological
evidences to prove that they were struck by
lightning. The reason for this is that the ancient
engineers had acted to provide the scientific
application to those buildings to protect them
from such accidents. It is taught in physics that
lightning occurs when static electricity passes
between clouds containing two contradictory
electric charges. Such extremely powerful
current comes to the earth through a tall object
with electric conduction. When the electricity
passes in that manner, the object is destroyed
by burning. You will learn more details of this
process in your science lesson.At present even some houses have lightning
conductor to get protection from lightning.
When Ruwanweli Seya was built, the engineers,
who built it, did not forget to fix a lightning
conductor. In historical sources that tool is
introduced in the name of ‘Vajra chumbata,.
‘Vajra’ is the lightning which is an electric current
generated naturally. The word ‘Chumbata’ has
derived from the word ‘chumbaka’ (magnetic).
Its meaning is ‘Kandama’. In Sinhalese language
‘Kandama’ means ‘attract’ or ‘cling’. Therefore,
using the word ‘Vajra chumbata’ to name the
structure made at the top of Ruwanweli Seya to
attract lightning is appropriate. The electricity
created by lightning is known as ‘static electricity’.
It is taught in physics.The Foundation of Ruwanweli SeyaRuwanweli Seya was constructed by king
Dutugemunu. It was the biggest Stupa constructed
by that time. An adequately long description on
an ancient construction has only been written
about Ruwanweli Seya. Specially, a vivid and a
descriptive explanation has been given in the
historical sources about how the foundation of
this great Stupa was made. According to it, first