354 



JOURNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. III. 



EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC WORKS IN 



CEYLON. 



By J. Capper, Esq., Honorary Secretary. 



It was not long since, that my attention was directed to a 

 paper read by Colonel Sykes before the Asiatic Society of 

 Great Britain, on the Expenditure on Public Works in India, 

 and a perusal of it induced me to enter upon the subject of 

 Public Works in Ceylon. It is a topic full of interest, taking 

 us back in our researches, to the earliest records of Sinhalese 

 History, when Ceylon, densely peopled, actively industrious, 

 and highly prosperous, produced works of Irrigation, of such 

 magnitude and number as to have raised the wonder of later 

 rulers of the Island, who have hitherto vainly strove to 

 follow even distantly in their steps, by renovating and utili- 

 sing a few of the gigantic Tanks which lie scattered in ruins 

 over the jungles and swamps of many parts of Ceylon. 



As I entered upon this most intei-esting topic, I found my 

 materials increasing on my hands ; I found the subject extend- 

 ing as I progressed, until I preceived, that instead of a short 

 statistical paper, my researches would lead to an Historical 

 Treatise, to follow up which and do it ample justice, would 

 require more time than I could, for the present, devote to it. 

 This being the case, I felt reluctantly, compelled to confine 

 my notes and remarks at this time, to the extent and outlay 

 on Public Works in Ceylon, during a little more than a 

 quarter of a century. 



On casting our eyes over the materials for such a paper as 

 this, we cannot fail to be struck with the contrast presented 



