එල්ලංගා පද්ධතිය ලෝක උරුමයක් ලෙස නිල වශයෙන් ප්රකාශයට පත් කරයි.
Components of a Village Tank System
The functioning of the village tank is dependent on several different ecological components that are found around the tank. These components include:
Sieve or Filter (Perahana ): a strip of grass and reeds on the periphery of the water body (dark green) that acts as sieve or filter to trap silt. A good habitat for herons and bitterns, as well as a breeding area for fish.
Water hole (Godawala): upstream sediment trap. A source of drinking water for cattle and wild animals.
Windbreak of trees (Gasgommana; gas = trees; gommana = plenty): an area planted with large trees of the same species that acts as a wind break to minimise evaporation from the surface of the tank. It also provides a number of ecosystem services, including the provision of dry season fruits and habitats for wild animals such as nesting birds.
Soil ridge (Iswetiya): upstream bund built on the periphery of the water body to manage soil erosion and sedimentation. It also acts as a temporary water pond, and supports aquatic and aquatic-associated species.
Relapanawa: constructed to prevent damage to the tank bund due to wave action in large tanks.
Interceptor (Kattakaduwa ): The stretch between the tank bund and paddy fields consisting of three land phases (water hole, marshy land and dry upland). Acts as a downstream wind barrier, reduces tank seepage, prevents sodium, magnesium and iron from entering the paddy land and safeguards the tank bund. It is also a common village garden and agro-forestry system providing medicines, fuel wood, timber, fencing materials, farm and household materials, fruit, vegetables and fodder, as well as raw materials for cottage industries.
Supports a range of floral species including Kumbuk (Terminalia arjuna) and Ingini (Strychnos potatorum), which act as purifying agents of water via their roots and seeds respectively, as well as Mee (Madhuca longifolia ) and Kala Wel (Derris spp.). A total 77 species have been recorded from the Kattakaduwa, of which 13 species are considered to be unique to this habitat.
Micro-habitats associated with the Kattakaduwa also support a number of faunal species including mammals (e.g. otters and fishing cats), birds (e.g. kingfishers), reptiles (e.g. water monitors) and amphibians, as well as invertebrate species (e.g. dragonflies).
New paddy field (Akkara wela): area outside the old (purana) field that was subsequently developed for paddy cultivation.
Old paddy field (Purana wel): Area cultivated with the tank capacity only
Drainage (Kiul ela): common drain of the irrigated area.
