Indo Aryan was agriculturists and they were settlers in this territory, were immigrants from river valleys. The rulers of the main kingdom in Anuradhapura always tried to
(Fig 01- Present southern province.) maintain close relationship with Rohana. In Rohana there were two dynasties named as “kajaragama” areola and “chandangama” areola.
Fisheries industry and agriculture were the chief mean of livelihood of the inhabitants of ancient Ruhuna …show more content…
Sinhalese were agricultural people and therefore they settled down in river banks to get water easily to their agriculture. Wet zone and Dry zone are the main two parts of Sri lanka divided according to geographical situation.
The wet zone villages were called ran fed villages. These people did not store water because they had enough rain fall. All the dwellings were spread around the river banks with lonely. Each and every house had a chena and paddy fields behind their houses. Wet zone villages were called as Tank fed villages. They did not have enough rain fall and therefore had to store water. Their dwellings were located like a bundle. Tank was located in the middle of the river and paddy fields were available above level of the tank. Cannels were used to supply water to paddy fields. On one side of the village the chena cultivation available and temple was situated near the tank. That place was always situated in an elevated area. They used water very effectively. Top part is for drinking purpose, middle is for bathing to people and the bottom for animal bathing. Hill country valley villages could be found in the hill country. They leveled the hill and built the houses. Paddy cultivation was available in the valley and the top of the hill covered with …show more content…
They had few houses for the whole village and had a simple life style blend with nature. They took materials from nature to build their houses and also returned them to nature.
The structures of the houses were very primitive. According to the historical evident the architecture of Sri lanka could be divided into two basic groups. They are private and public. Private architecture could be sub divided into the dwellings of the ordinary folk and the mansions.
Ruhuna chena house and the houses of coastal line were the two types of houses in southern province.
Ruhuna chena houses:
These houses also very simple, small, rectangular houses as their life styles were very simple. Could be found in dry areas. Mainly house could be divided into 3 areas as public, semipublic and private. The compound was the public area. “Pila” was identified as the semipublic area and small rooms were defined as private area. This pila was a sizable stage and a open space for the house. It was used to private work such as welcoming guests. Some houses had 2 pilas at the front and the rear space. Mostly the interior part was for women and children for private activities. These rooms were gloomy and didn’t have enough ventilation and light. The windows also not big enough. Later several types of folk dwelling contained with two rooms