Fig. 4.2. A scene of a newly arranged Chena (Nawadeli Hena)A new chena, which has been cleared by setting
fire to it, is called as ‘Nawa Deli Hena’. Those
Chenas are fertile. The term ‘Nawadeli Sena’ has
been mentioned in ‘Saddharma Rathnawaliya’
too. In some parts of Sri Lanka, a different
meaning is given to the term ‘Nawa Deli Hena’. It
says the term ‘Nawa Deli Hena’ is used for Chenas
where the nine plants namely, finger millet
(Kurakkan), Kollu, Undu, green gram(Mun),
Corn (Iringu), millet (Thanahal), dill seeds
(Asamodagam) and Amu have sprouted in
lush. The villagers in Anuradhapura use the
term ‘Kanaththa’ to name the Chenas which are
prepared to start cultivation again after giving it
up for some time. The normal method practised
in Chena cultivation was abandoning a certain
Chena after cultivating it for once or twice. As it
is abandoned for some time, it grows wild again.
Therefore, old Chena cultivation did not do any
harm to the environment.
The seeds such as Undu, Ma, Green gram (Mun),
finger millet (Kurakkan), Corn (Iringu), Sesame
thala, amu, mustard (Aba), dill (Duru), and
millet (Thanahal) as well as vegetables such as
Karabatu, Thiththabatu, Brinjal (Vambatu), ash
pumkin (Alu puhul) and pumpkin (Wattakka)
were cultivated in Chenas. Al vee (a type of
paddy), yams, Uk Gas (sugar cane) and Kapu
(cotton) were cultivated in Chenas separated for
them. During that time the cultivation of sugar
cane and cotton was rich enough to produce
jaggery and clothes needed for the country. The
Wamsakatha mention that there were labourers
engaged in sugar cane industry. Our ancestors
were able to produce jaggery needed within the
country itself for a long time. The scholars point
out that until the 16th century A.D., sugar was
not imported to this country.As a Chena is cultivated in a place which is away
from farmers’ houses, they stay temporarily in
a hut built in the Chena until it is harvested.
The fence, which is normally made out of sticks
around the Chena to protect its crops from the