{{Short description|none}} A number of different [[units of measurement]] were used in [[Sri Lanka]] to measure quantities like [[length]], [[mass]] and capacity from very ancient times.<ref name=":ict4">{{Cite book|title = International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology|last = Washburn|first = E. W.|publisher = McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc|year = 1926|location = New York|pages = 4}}</ref> Under the [[British Empire]], [[imperial units]] became the official units of measurement<ref name=":wmm23">{{Cite book|title = Weights Measures and Money of All Nations|url = https://archive.org/details/weightsmeasuresm00clarrich|last = Clarke|first = F. W.|publisher = D. Appleton & Company |year = 1891|location = New York|pages = [https://archive.org/details/weightsmeasuresm00clarrich/page/n26 23]}}</ref> and remained so until Sri Lanka adopted the [[metric system]] in the 1970s.<ref name=":mu">{{Cite web|url = https://www.measurementsdept.gov.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=39&Itemid=172&lang=en|title = History|access-date = 15 September 2022|website = Measurement Units and Services Department}}</ref><ref name=":esu7">{{Cite book|title = Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins.|url = https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediasci00card_043|url-access = limited|last = Cardarelli |first = F.|publisher = Springer|year = 2003|isbn = 978-1-4471-1122-1|location = London|pages = [https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediasci00card_043/page/n153 7]}}</ref>
==Traditional units==
Various units were used in [[Sri Lanka]] at different times and some only in certain regions. Some of these remained in use well into the colonial period.<ref name=":ict4" /><ref name=Pieris /> The following is only a partial list.
===Length===
One cubit was equal to 0.464 m (18.5 in).<ref name=":wmm23" /> The Bam̆ba (Fathom), still in use as of 2016, is the distance between a man's outstretched arms. It is roughly 6 feet in length. "Bam̆ba" is usually used to measure depth in wells and pits.<ref name=":ict4" /> Units used in measuring long distances included the "Gavuva", "Yoduna", and "Usaba" (plurals Gavu and Yodun - a Yoduna was 4 Gavu) and the "hoo kiyana dura", which was the audible distance of a shout of 'hoo' by a person.<ref name=Pieris>{{cite web|last1=Pieris|first1=Kamalika|title=Weights and measures in ancient and medieval Sri Lanka|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2010/05/10/fea25.asp|publisher=[[Daily News (Sri Lanka)]]|access-date=3 January 2015}}</ref> Base of these system of measuring length was the human body. * වියත ( Viyatha = Span ) Length of a spread hand * රියන ( Riyana = Cubit ) Length from the elbow to middle finger * බඹ (Bamba = Fathom ) Length of two hands spread [[Nissanka Malla of Polonnaruwa|King Nisshankamalla]] have established milestones called "Gaavutha Kanu" from a Gavu to another. Two of such have been found in Katugahagalge and Valigaththa in Southern Province.<ref name=":0" />
The smallest unit was known as "Paramaanuwa", which was equal to {{val|3.306|e=-11|u=m}} ({{val|1.302|e=-9|u=in}}), or slightly less than {{frac|3}} of an [[angstrom]]. A typical [[Span (unit)|span]] was taken roughly equal to 22.86 cm (9 in). These small units of measurement were used in making of statues and buildings. Following are the relationships between the units used in ancient times.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=History Grade 10|work=Textbook|publisher=Education Publications Department - Sri Lanka|date=2015|location=Tharanji Prints, 506, Highlevel Rd., Navinna, Maharagama.|pages=73, 74, 75|language=si}}</ref><ref name="Davids">{{Cite book|last1=Davids|first1=T. W. Rhys|title=On the Ancient Coins and Measures of Ceylon : With a Discussion of the Ceylon Date of the Buddha's Death|publisher=Trübner & Co.|date=1877|location=57 and 59, Ludgate Hill, London, England|page=15}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |+Ancient units of length in Ceylon !Smaller unit != !Large unit !Metric approximation |- | | |1 paramaanuwa |{{val|33.0667}} [[Picometre|pm]] |- |36 paramaanu |= |1 anu |{{val|1.1904}} [[Nanometre|nm]] |- |36 anu |= |1 thajjaari |{{val|42.8544}} nm |- |36 thajjaari |= |1 ratharenu |1.54 [[Micrometre|μm]] |- |36 ratharenu |= |1 likkha |55.54 μm |- |7 likkha |= |1 ukha |0.38878 mm |- |7 ukha |= |1 dhannamaasa |2.72143 mm (0.10714 in) |- |7 dhannamaasa |= |1 aangula |19.05 mm (0.75 in) |- |7 aangula |= |1 viyatha (Span) |228.6 mm (9 in) |- |2 viyatha |= |1 riyana (cubit) |457.2 mm (18 in) |- |7 riyana |= |1 yatthi |3.2004 m (126 in, 10.5 ft) |- |4 yatthi |= |1 abbhantara |12.8 m (42 ft) |- |5 abbhantara |= |1 usabha |64 m (210 ft) |- |10 usabha |= |1 gavuva |640 m (2100 ft) |- |4 gavuva |= |1 yoduna |2560 m (8400 ft) |}
=== Area === Measurements of area used in ancient Sri Lanka was a system derived from [[Paddy field|paddy agriculture]].<ref name=":0" /> Area was often measured in terms of the land that could be sown with a specific amount of seed or rice, including the pǣla, amuna, kiriya (4 amunas), and the riyana. In one region, a kiriya was about 8 acres.<ref name="Pieris" /> Following are relationships between some typical measures of area.<ref name=":0" /> {| class="wikitable" |+Sri Lankan ancient units of area !Smaller unit != !Larger unit !Approximate value |- | | |1 Laaha |{{convert|49.5|sqft|abbr=on}} |- |40 laaha |= |1 pǣla |{{convert|1980|sqft|abbr=on}} |- |12 pǣla |= |12 kuruni |{{convert|23760|sqft|abbr=on}} |- |44 kuruni |= |1 amuna |{{convert|2|acre|abbr=on}} |- |1 amuna |= |25 kareesa |{{convert|34148|sqft|abbr=on}} |- |4 amuna |= |1 kiriya |{{convert|8|acre}} |} In a stone inscription written by [[Bhatikabhaya Abhaya of Anuradhapura|King Bhathikabhaya Abhaya]] at Dunumadalakanda in Anuradhapura District, it is stated that he offered a land of 1 kareesa to a temple in the area. In another stone inscription written by [[Kutakannabhaya Thissa|King Kutakannabhaya Thissa]] at Horiwila in Anuradhapura District, it is stated that he offered a land of 8 kareesa to a temple named 'Thissa' in the area.<ref name=":0" />
[[James Prinsep]], writing in 1840, stated that "at ... Ceylon ... English measures only are used, or at least a [[cubit]] based on the English measure of 18 inches."<ref name="prinsep">{{cite book|last1=Prinsep|first1=James|title=Useful tables, forming an appendix to the Journal of the Asiatic Society: part the first, Coins, weights, and measures of British India|date=1840|publisher=Bishop's College Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LTYGAAAAQAAJ&q=candy&pg=PA86|access-date=2 January 2015}}</ref>{{rp|96}} [[File:Badulla Pillar Inscription.JPG|thumb|Badulla Pillar Inscription, in which prohibition of frauds in weighing is stated]] [[File:Adenanthera pavonina2.jpg|alt=Adenanthera Pavonina|thumb|Madatiya ( ''[[Adenanthera pavonina]]'' ), which was a base unit used to measure small weights.]]
===Weight===
One [[candy (unit)|candy]], or one [[bahar (unit)|bahar]], was equal to 226.8 kg,<ref name=":ict4" /> or 500 lbs,<ref name=prinsep />{{rp|86}} or according to ''The Indian Trader's Guide'' 480 Dutch pounds or 520 pounds Avoirdupois.<ref name=maccauly>{{cite book|last1=Maccauly|first1=Thomas|title=The Indian Trader's complete Guide, being a correct account of coins, weights, measures &c. &c. at the different settlements of India and adjacent native sovereignties of Asia.|date=1818|location=Calcutta|page=42|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ENVAAAAcAAJ&q=ammonam&pg=PA42|access-date=2 January 2015}}</ref> Small weights could be measured in seeds, such as the Thala ([[Sesame]]), Amu, Vee ([[Rice]]) (3 Amu), Madati (8 Vee), Majadi, Maditi, Kalanda, and Manjadi.<ref name="Pieris" /> In ancient times, there have been an accurate system to measure weights. Following are some such weight measuring units used.<ref name=":0" /> Units like Madati ( ''Adenanthera pavonina'' ), Vee (Rice) are based on weights of those seeds.
It is stated that frauds in weighing was a punishable offence and only weights approved by the government should be used in weighing, in [[Sorabora Wewa]] Pillar Inscription ([[Badulla Pillar Inscription]]) which was written by [[Udaya IV of Anuradhapura|King Udaya IV]].<ref name=":0" /> {| class="wikitable" |+Sri Lankan Ancient Units of Weight !Smaller Unit != !Larger Unit |- |4 Veeha |= |1 Gunja |- |2 Gunja |= |1 Maasaka |- |{{frac|2|1|2}} Maasaka |= |1 Aka |- |8 Aka |= |1 Dharana |- |5 Dharana |= |1 Swarna |- |2 Swarna |= |1 Pala |}
===Capacity===
Different units were used for liquid and dry capacity.<ref name=":wmm23" />
====Liquid====
One [[seer (unit)|seer]] was equal to 1.2 quarts and one parrah was equal to 6.75 gallons.<ref name=":wmm23" /> Another source suggests that a seer was equal to 1.86 imperial pints or 1.06 litres.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sizes.com/units/seer.htm |title=Seer |access-date=2 January 2015 |work=Sizes, grades, units, scales, calendars, chronologies}}</ref> These were mostly introduced in the period which coastal areas were governed by Portuguese and Dutch.
====Dry==== Units to measure dry capacities were mainly used in agriculture. Some of them are as following: {| class="wikitable" |+Sri Lankan Ancient Units of Dry Capacity !Smaller Unit != !Large Unit |- |2 Patha / Koththu / Hundu |= |1 Mana |- |2 Mana |= |1 Seru |- |1 Seru |= |1 Bandara Naliya (Royally accepted base unit) / 1 Naliya |- |2 Seru |= |1 Serika |- |2 Serika |= |1 Laha / Yala / Kuruni * |- |2 Laha / Yala / Kuruni * |= |1 Marikkala |- |2 Marikkala |= |1 Thimba |- |2 Thimba |= |1 Busala |- |5 Laha / Yala / Kuruni * |= |1 Bera |- |2 Bera |= |1 Pala |- |4 Pala |= |1 Amuna |} <nowiki>*</nowiki> capacity of Kuruni varies from area to area<ref>{{Cite book|title=කමත් භාෂාව|last=Kahandagamage|first=Piyasena|publisher=M. D. Gunasena|year=2009|isbn=978-955-21-1111-2|pages=5, 17, 18, 25, 27, 29, 31, 34, 35, 38, 39, 42, 43, 44}}</ref>
One ammonam was equal to 203.4 L.<ref name=":ict4" /> One parrah = {{frac|1|8}} ammonam, one[[seer (unit)|seer]] = {{frac|1|288}} ammonam and the chundoo was equal to nearly half a pint.<ref name=":wmm23" />
Maccauly stated in 1818 that to the north of Colombo an ''Ammonam'' contained 16 ''Parahs'', and {{frac|2|1|2}} ''Ammonams'' equalled one ''Acre'', but that to the south there were 8 ''Parahs'' to the ''Ammonam''. He describes the ''Parah'' as a measure 16.7 inches wide and 5.6 inches deep.<ref name=maccauly />
Montgomery, writing in 1835, described the interior measurement of a ''Parrah'' as a perfect cube of 11.571 inches, and the seer as a cylinder of depth 4.35 inches and diameter 4.35 inches.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Montgomery|first1=Martin|title=History of the British colonies: Vol 1: Possessions in Asia| date=1835| publisher=Cochrane|page=561|edition=2nd|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KPxELIVfxtAC&q=ammonam&pg=PA561|access-date=2 January 2015|chapter=Ceylon}}</ref>
== See also == * [[Units of measurement|Units of Measurement]] * [[Measurement]] * [[System of measurement|System of Measurement]] * [[History of measurement|History of Measurement]]
{{Portal|Sri Lanka}}
==References==
{{Reflist}} {{systems of measurement}}
[[Category:Culture of Sri Lanka]] [[Category:Units of measurement by country|Sri Lanka]]