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Recreational Activities and its Development in Ancient Cities of Sri Lanka

Conference Paper · March 2012

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Dinesha Rasanjali Senarathna

University of Kelaniya
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 5th$Research$Conference,$The$Royal$Asiatic$Society$of$Sri$Lanka,$March$2012$
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English(Translation(
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Recreational!Activities!and!its!Development!in!Ancient!Cities!of!Sri!Lanka!
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$
S.P.$Dinesha$Rasanjali$Senarathna$
Department(of(Geography,(University(of(Kelaniya,(Sri(Lanka(
Email:$dinesha.kln@gmail.com$
$
$
$
Sri$Lanka$is$country$with$specialized$knowledge$regarding$the$construction$of$cities.$It$
becomes$evident$from$examining$the$town$planning$of$ancient$Ceylon.$Towns$and$cities$
emerged$ with$ the$ immigration$ of$ “Aryans”$ which$ became$ kingdoms.$ These$ kingdoms$
were$ shifted$ to$ different$ places$ from$ time$ to$ time$ for$ security$ measures.$ These$ cities$
were$constructed$accordingly$to$competent$planning$and$adequate$attention$had$been$
paid$ towards$ beautification$ of$ cities$ and$ recreational$ activities$ of$ such$ cities.$
Accordingly,$ the$ main$ objective$ of$ this$ research$ is$ to$ investigate$ in$ to$ the$ distinctive$
features$of$the$expansion$of$recreation$activities$of$ancient$cities$in$Ceylon.$
$
Flora$ and$ water$ had$ been$ adapted$ for$ the$ recreation$ of$ urban$ landscapes.$ Active$
outdoor$ recreational$ activities$ such$ as$ garden$ sports,$ water$ sports$ and$ blood$ sports$
making$ use$ of$ gardens,$ ponds,$ pavilions$ and$ island$ gardens$ had$ been$ popularly$
practiced$during$the$ancient$times$in$Sri$Lanka.$The$only$recreational$city$constructed$
in$ancient$Ceylon$with$town$beautification,$leisure$and$amusement$is$the$Rock$Fortress$
of$ “Sigiriya”$ which$ is$ considered$ as$ a$ world$ heritage.$ In$ the$ process$ of$ ancient$ city$
planning,$ the$ Architects$ have$ emphasized$ on$ three$ fundamental$ factors.$ They$ are$
security$ measures$ (defense),$ Landscaping,$ aesthetic$ beauty$ and$ the$ convenience$ of$
access$to$water$sources.$While$constructing$ancient$citadels,$the$other$most$important$
fact$they$had$considered$is$Recreational$activities.$
$
They$have$paid$a$special$attention$towards$Recreational$Activities$relatively$to$present$
day$ cities.$ “Sigiriya”$ rock$ fortress$ is$ identified$ as$ the$ most$ wondrous$ Sri$ Lankan$
Archaeological$ structure$ affluent$ with$ city$ planning,$ GardenSscaping,$ Engineering,$
Hydraulic$technology$and$defense$during$the$5th$century$A.D.$
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During$ Anuradhapura$ period$ pleasure$ gardens,$ ponds$ and$ blood$ sports$ have$ been$
popular$ but$ during$ the$ Polonnaruwa$ era,$ with$ the$ influence$ of$ Buddhism,$ blood$ sport$
has$been$abandoned$while$island$gardens$and$pavilions$have$been$replaced.$Conduction$
of$water$garden$is$a$special$feature$of$Sigiriya.$During$the$period$of$Kandian$Kingdom,$
an$island$garden$has$been$constructed$for$amusement.$Construction$of$ponds$has$been$
abandoned$ after$ the$ Kandian$ era.$ It$ has$ a$ special$ feature$ that$ the$ concept$ of$ Garden$
cities$has$been$in$practice$from$Anuradhapura$era$up$to$the$Colombo$period.$From$the$
 5th$Research$Conference,$The$Royal$Asiatic$Society$of$Sri$Lanka,$March$2012$
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time$ of$ Anuradhapura$ kingdom$ up$ to$ the$ Kandian$ period$ only$ Royal$ family$ and$ their$
relatives$ enjoyed$ the$ benefits$ of$ Recreational$ Activities.$ But$ by$ the$ time$ of$ Colombo$
period$the$general$public$was$allowed$to$enjoy$the$benefits$of$Recreational$Activities.$By$
the$ present$ day,$ although$ recreational$ activities$ have$ been$ increased$ in$ number,$ the$
quality$of$facilities$for$the$urban$population$appear$to$be$below$standard.$
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Keywords:$Recreational$Activities,$Concept$of$Garden$Cities,$Water$Gardens,$Ponds$
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