Title: Innovative approach for developing human settlements, commercial and industrial zones to

maintain the sustainability of “Rajarara” ecosystems for future generations in Sri Lanka

Author: Chandima Gunasena Address: “Priyanka” Gathara, Kamburupitiya Email:

cpg810@gmail.com

Abstract

Savannas in East Africa were the places where ancient human settlements established. New flat
land gave an opportunity to free up their hands for tool use. Thereafter, humans have passed several
development stages and now heading for the fourth industrial revolution. All human settlement
schemes are spreading horizontally creating serious environmental issues and this may have
triggered the collapse of ancient civilizations. Our ancient hydraulic civilization was also
collapsed due to many reasons, among them impacts over the “Rajarata” ecosystems and collapse
of ecosystem services and resilience could be one of the major causes. Sri Lanka is also heading
for the fourth industrial revolution and trying to plug in to global economic supply chains in many
ways and with the adverse impacts of climate change country is struggling to find new lands for
settlement schemes, agricultural and industrial needs by clearing natural forest cover in wet zone,
intermediate zone as well as “Rajarata” or dry zone areas. Human settlements in Rajarata area
today spreading horizontally and in cities like Anuradhapura, Dambulla and Pollonnaruwa,
highland areas nearby tanks have been used individually as well as for public mainly for
residential, commercial and industrial purposes creating severe environmental problems. Present
paper discusses an innovative approach for implementing human settlement schemes and industrial
zones in “Rajarata” or dry zone of Sri Lanka to protect existing ecosystems and their services and
resilience. Instead of expanding horizontally, it is proposed to expand human settlements vertically
along the interface where highland meets the low lying areas. All residential schemes, industrial
zones, commercial areas, including schools, hospitals and other public services must be established
in these proposed settlement schemes. Instead of demarcating individual land parcels in those
cascade systems based on the ethnicity or other cultural differences, people could enjoy the
aesthetically pleasing environment or the beauty of the “Rajarata” or dry zone near by paddy fields
or reservoirs as a community with the proposed settlement scheme while keeping the beauty for
future generations.
Introduction

According to Charles in the year 2011, human lineage was originated about 2.5 million years ago.
This coincides with the expansion of savannas, across East Africa. Replacement of woodlands
with savannas provided a chance to the ancestors of humans to stray from trees and let them to
walk upright across the grass. This new flat land gave an opportunity to free up their hands for tool
use.

With the advancement of the science and technology humans have passed several land marks in
modern development such as Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age (Essential humanities 2013)
followed by green revolution, industrial revolution and heading for the fourth industrial revolution
Klaus (2016).

All human settlement schemes established in history as well as present days shows a common
feature. That could be identified as horizontal spreading of settlements. This approach lead to
encroach all most all ecosystems form north to south west to east for individual and public needs
creating pressure over the ecosystem services and resilience. Increase of bare lands, loss of natural
vegetation cover, surface and ground water pollution are some of the impacts which may have
trigger the collapse of ancient civilizations.

Sri Lanka is also heading for the fourth industrial revolution and trying to plug in to global
economic supply chains in many ways. Land is the main limiting resource for Sri Lanka with the
increasing population pressure and the need of land for expanding agricultural and industrial
sectors. Apart from these two thrusts, poverty also imposes a substantial pressure on ecosystems
of Sri Lank.

Our ancient hydraulic civilization was also collapsed due to many reasons, among them impacts
over the “Rajarata” ecosystems and collapse of ecosystem services and resilience could be one of
the major causes Wikipedia (2018).

Presently, with the adverse impacts of climate change (Athula Senaratne et.al in 2009), Sri Lanka
is struggling to find new lands for settlement schemes, agricultural and industrial needs by clearing
natural forest cover in wet zone, intermediate zone as well as “Rajarata” or dry zone areas.

Nature of spreading human settlements in “Rajarata” Sri Lanka

During the ancient past “Rajarata” land, water and ecosystems were managed by using a cascade
or “Ellangava” system (Dharmasena 2010) supporting all ecosystem services and managing the
resilience.

Figure 1: View from the top of the Segiriya

As shown in the Figure 1, “Rajarata” cannot be classified as the Dry Zone. It is the most fertile flat
land area nourished with the 103 river basins running from the central highlands. During the
ancient past a land classification system was existed and it was based on the geographical or terrain
features and the water availability namely, “Kanda” “Landa” “Deniya”, “Pathakada” “Walakada”
“Wila” “Wala” etc. Similarly, rainwater harvesting systems and water purification systems were
used during the ancient past. Techniques were available thousands of years before to reduce the
velocity of the flowing water, purification, ground water recharging and increase and decrease of
time of concentration, utilization of integrated constructed wetlands etc. Udalamatta S.S (2011)
and Chandima Gunasena (2018).
After the collapse of the “Rajarata” hydraulic civilization, people have moved to the wet zone and
the hill country. With the foreign invasion wet zone and the central highland was cleared for
commercial plantations altering the climate of Sri Lanka. Foreign rulers have introduced manmade
boundaries like provinces, districts, assistant government agent division etc. to manage the human
and natural resources without considering the natural boundaries like river basins, catchment areas
and ancient land classification system.

Even today we use the same unsustainable administrative boundaries to mobilize financial, natural
and human capital to solve our local problems creating devastating situations. People seek separate
geographical areas to represent and safeguard their ethnic and religious belief systems ignoring the
capacities of ecosystems and their capabilities to provide services while maintaining the resilience.
This will be the main threat to the survival of the “Rajarata” cascade or “Ellangawa” ecosystem
and the human settlements in the long run.

As discussed earlier human settlements in Rajarata area today spreading horizontally in highlands
and they use low line areas for agricultural purposes. With the expansion of major cities like
Anuradhapura, Dambulla and Pollonnaruwa, Highland areas nearby tanks have been used
individually as well as for public mainly for residential, commercial and industrial purposes
creating severe environmental problems.
 “Nuwara Wewa”

Figure 1: Human settlement schemes near the Anuradhapura “Nuwara Wewa”

Figure 1 shows the horizontal spreading of human settlements near the Anuradhapura “Nuwara
Wewa” area. It clearly indicates the nature of utilizing highlands near the tank which is the
catchment area of the tank. People have divided the area for public and private used for many
purposes, creating sever environmental damages to the services and resilience of that ecosystem.

Due to the mismanagement of septic waste and other municipal solid waste, surface and ground
water could be polluted in the long run. Similarly, by clearing the highland areas belong to
interlinked catchments of cascade or “Ellangava systems may lead to environmental catastrophe
in future.

Present paper discusses an innovative approach for implementing human settlement schemes,
commercial areas and industrial zones in “Rajarata” or dry zone of Sri Lanka to protect existing
ecosystems and their services and resilience.
Propose Method of establishing human settlements in “Rajarata” Area

Figure 2: Saliyapura tank and its catchment area

As shown in the Figure 2, several tanks could be seen in this area and they are interlinked to form
a cascade or “Ellangawa” system. It is the most sustainable way of utilizing the dry zone lands
while maintaining the necessary ecosystem services and resilience of those ecosystems.

With the population pressure, day by day people are encroaching highlands of these areas or the
catchment areas of these cascade systems, for public and private use creating continuous pressure
on the sustainability of these sensitive ecosystems. This may cause serious environmental
catastrophe leading to abandoning the “Rajarata” area for the second time within the known
history.
Housing schemes or industrial zones could be arranged as shown in the Figure 3. Land areas for
settlements, commercial and industrial purposes have to be selected along the interface where
highlands meet the low lying areas. This approach will eliminate encroach of highlands which are
the catchment areas of the existing cascade system.

Tank

Tank

Tank
Tank

Figure 3: Proposed vertically expanded human settlements and industrial zones

in “Rajarata” area

Proposed vertically expanding human settlements

Instead of expanding horizontally, it is proposed to expand human settlements vertically along the
interface where highland meets the low lying areas. All residential schemes, industrial zones,
commercial areas, including schools, hospitals and other public services must be established in
these proposed settlement schemes. Housing schemes will be constructed to have more privacy
with more space. Community centers will be provided to develop the social and ethnical harmony.

Proposed Land management system

Existing individual land ownership could be maintained as it is. But stakeholders must agree to
have their settlements, commercial and industrial entities in the proposed schemes. Government
or the responsible local authority must develop a suitable cultivation plan for the highland and low
lying areas considering the local and global needs facilitating to establish supply chains. Facilities
have to be provided to utilize land resources individually and collectively for agricultural and
conservation purposes while linking with the local and global supply chains. It is a community as
well as government responsibility to safeguard the cascade or the “Ellangawa” system to protect
the dry zone ecosystems and keep the sustainability for the future generations. This could be easily
done by reestablishing techniques used in the ancient past for land and water management.

Proposed industrial and drinking water management system

Vertical and Lanier arrangement of buildings along the highland, lowland interface provide
opportunities to handle industrial and household drinking water problems effectively. This will
help to eliminate the Unidentified Chronic Kidney Disease in the “Rajarata” area. With the new
approach water could be saved and utilized efficiently than in horizontally spread settlement
schemes and more lands will be able for surface and groundwater management.

Proposed waste water and municipal solid waste management systems

Since buildings are arranged vertically and linearly community based disposal, collection and
transport could be arranged easier than in traditional horizontally spread settlement schemes. This
facilitates and encourages the recycling industry and production of organic fertilizers.

Proposed power, telecommunication and drainage management system

Power, telecommunication and drainage line management will be easier and cost effective than
existing housing schemes. Central and decentralized treatment plants could be established for
waste recycling and management. Production of organic fertilizer could also be easier and cost
effective.

Proposed plan for utilizing alternative energies

Solar and wind are the main potential alternative energies that could be utilized in the “Rajarata”
area. This will cut down the need of hydroelectricity and will lower the cost of production. Bio
mass energy is the other alternative energy which would be easily utilized at the household level
as well as the industrial level. Proper waste disposal facilities will provide lots of opportunities to
generate electricity for industrial usage and will generate more employment opportunities.

Proposed transport facilities

Transport facilities could be provided very easily and everybody can have quality transport service
minimizing the need of individual transport systems. This will help to improve the utilization of
time and fuel efficiently.

Social integrity and livelihood improvements

People will have opportunity to live together in a safer environment without any disturbances form
droughts, floods, or from animals. Community centers and other social facilities will improve the
livelihoods of the “Rajarata” community. Since the hospitals, schools and other public services are
easily accessed due to efficient transportation system, people will have more chance to obtain
educational, health and other public facilities than traditional settlement schemes.

Commercial and industrial zone management

Proposed settlement scheme provides an opportunity to streamline the commercial and industrial
production. Financial, natural and human capital could be mobilized very efficiently for a cost
effective production process. Linear and vertical arrangement of the settlement schemes will
provide an opportunity to have better secure transportation system leading to have time saving and
production optimization opportunities in a better commercial and industrial setting.

Expected outcome
Establishing the proposed settlement scheme along the interface between the highland and the
lowland will provide several benefits to the humans as well as the other flora and fauna
communities.

Instead of demarcating individual land parcels in those cascade systems based on the ethnicity or
other cultural differences, people could enjoy in the aesthetically pleasing environment or the
beauty of the “Rajarata” or dry zone near by paddy fields or reservoirs as a community with the
proposed settlement scheme.

Supplying power, telecommunication, facilities could be much easier and drainage and sewerage
facilities could also be provided efficiently and effectively.

Since it is very easy to establish road network and the transportation system, people will have more
chance to get education, health and other public facilities more efficiently. This will improve the
livelihoods of the “Rajarata” people.

People will have more socially coherent environment to live while safeguarding the sensitive
cascade or “Ellangawa” ecosystem which is identical to “Rajarata” area.

With relevance to discussion proposed by Rainforest Resource International

Proposed new colonizing approach will help to have a better re-greening approach for Sri
Lanka

Climate

Proposed colonization will reduce GHG emissions and increase ambient cooling. Proposed
building arrangements just on the border of highlands and low lands will decrease the
imperviousness in Rajarata allowing ground water recharging and increase the green cover.
Agriculture sector will have more lands where earlier model covers land surface other than
agriculture and degenerate ecosystem very rapidly. Waste disposal could be managed more
scientifically with minimum environmental effects.

Water
Proposed colonization system will help to manage ellangawa cascade system more effectively
while managing surface and ground water resources effectively and efficiently.

Food Security

Instead of large scale farming, integrated small scale farming systems could be practiced with
minimum environmental damages where there is no any population pressure applied with time on
natural and agricultural landscape.

Bio diversity

Proposed colonization system will free more and more lands in highland areas belongs to
catchment areas of different elangava systems. Therefore, disturbances to the natural ecosystems
will be minimized. Further to that, survival rates of wild life will also be increased.

Finally it could be concluded that not only the ecosystems but livelihoods of humans and all other
living beings will be increased due to the minimization of human interactions with the nature and
the natural ecosystems.
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