An Inland wetland of Man-made origin located in the Dry Zone of the North-Central province. Parakrama Samudraya is an ancient, large, shallow, man-made impoundment created for irrigation by King Parakrama Bahu the Great (1153 ?1186 AD) by damming the Amban Ganga. The reservoir is situated in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, which was the medieval capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th century. The present reservoir is a result of connecting three original reservoirs. The oldest one is at the northernmost part, Topa Wewa built around 386 AD. The middle part, Eramudu Wewa and the southern part, Dumbutulla Wewa were constructed during the reign of King Parakrama Bahu (1153 ?1186 AD) during which period the ancient irrigation system experienced its maximum development. Due to invasions, the Polonnaruwa kingdom was abandoned and the lakebed was subsequently covered with jungle. In 1945, the dam was reconstructed and the lake was filled once again. The phytoplankton assemblage (84 species) in the water body is characterized by green algae (30 species), blue-green algae (22 species), and diatoms and the abundance of species varies according to the amount of rainfall experienced. Biomass is dominated by Melosira granulata, Anabaenopsis raciborskii and Mogeotia sp. The zooplankton of Parakrama Samudraya is dominated by rotifers (32 species), while 19 species of Cladocera and 3 species of Cyclopoida, 2 species of Calanoida, and 1 species of Harpacticoida have also been recorded. About 23 fish species have been documented in the water body. The fish fauna of the reservoir is dominated by exotic food fish species (Oreochromis mossambicus, Aristichthys nobilis, Cirrhinus cirrhosus and Labeo rohita). Indigenous fish include Puntius spp, Rasbora spp, Channa spp., and Clarias brachysoma. Aquatic reptiles include Crocodylus palustris, Lissemys punctata and Melanochelys trijuga. Birds include Haliaeetus leucogaster, Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus, Ceryle rudis and Dendrocygna javanica. Large herds of Elephas maximus, Axis axis and small groups of Sus scrofa are among the mammal species. Manilkara hexandra, Schleichera oleosa, Azadirachta indica and Bauhinia racemosa are among the common tree species in the dry mixed evergreen forest areas adjacent to the reservoir. Other tree species around the tank are Ficus religiosa, Ficus racemosa, Cassia fistula, Syzigium cummingi and Lepisanthus tetraphylla. Part of the catchment of this resevoir is located within the recently declared (2006) Angammadilla National Park.

Parakrama Samudra Reservoir Related references