Sampath Bank sets up National Engineering Heritage Gallery
Saturday, 6 July 2013 00:00
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Sampath Bank recently joined hands with the Institute of Engineers of Sri Lanka to establish the ‘National Engineering Heritage Gallery’ in the National Museum to display the engineering skills of the ancient Sinhalese.
Sampath Bank, as the pioneer bank in introducing many a technological innovation to the banking industry in Sri Lanka, constantly strives to upgrade its systems through the use of state of the art technology.
The bank has incorporated its technical knowhow and financial might to revive the ancient engineering marvels in Anuradhapura, Jethawana Dagaba, Bisokotuwa, Sigiriya, Dedigama Eth Pahana, and Super carbonic Metal used in Samanala Wewa Hydro-Electricity Project, at the National Museum. This bold initiative was pursued by Sampath Bank on the guidance of the National Museum of Natural Sciences and the Institute of Engineers of Sri Lanka.
The Gallery was ceremonially opened by the Minister of National Heritage Affairs Dr. Jagath Balasuriya in the presence of the Minister of Power and Energy Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, Samapth Bank’s Managing Director Aravinda Perera and Deputy Chairman Channa Palansuriya.
The National Engineering Heritage Gallery presents the engineering knowledge and the technology used by ancient kings in building renowned archaeological sites including the Jetawana Dagaba and Bisokotuwa in Anuradhapura, the Sigiriya rock fortress, and the Dedigama Eth Pahana. Also on display is the super carbonic metal used in the Samanala Wewa Hydro-Electricity Project.
Detailed information on these projects is conveyed to the public through visual and audio aids. Television sets are installed in each exhibition booth to view short documentaries relating to the sites. Further, models of the archaeological sites make it possible for the public to view and fathom the ancient engineering marvels and how they were used. The Gallery provides information in all three languages – Sinhala, Tamil and English.
The engineering skills of the ancient Sinhalese have been greatly appreciated and commented on by researchers and historians of international repute. The Bisokotuwa or the cistern sluice, for example, was the ancient version of the modern valve pit to regulate the outward flow of water of the reservoirs. It was a rectangular open well or pit from a spot near the crest of the dam down to a certain depth. An apparatus was fitted to the bisokotuwa which, by raising or lowering, the culvert could be wholly or partially covered. This marvel of irrigation technology was a common feature in the huge irrigation tanks built in the latter part of the third century.
The Jetavana Dagoba, built by King Mahasena towards the end of the third century, is the largest stupa in Sri Lanka with a diameter of 367 feet at its base and even in its ruined condition stood at a height of 232 feet.
The 5th century marvel of King Kassapa, Sigiriya is a stupendous engineering feat as well as a notable work of art that was not attempted by any of his successors.
The eth pahana (elephant lamp) excavated from the relic chamber of a dagoba in Dedigama, birth-place of King Parakramabahu the Great, demonstrates a unique hydrostatic design featuring an elephant. Oil is poured into the lamp and when the level of oil goes below a certain level, due to a mechanical devise based on hydrostatic principles, the oil pours into the receptacle through the genital organ of the elephant. The flow ceases when the oil reaches the level of the elephant’s feet again.
Sampath Bank believes that this CSR project will be of immense value to the visitors to the national museum, particularly to students who will be able to get first-hand knowledge of the marvel of the Sinhalese in the days gone by.
