Mapping the country's progress

By Hiranthi Fernando

Two hundred years of service is indeed a proud record. For the Sri Lanka Survey Department which achieved this distinction on August 2, 2000 there were many milestones to record. One of the oldest civil services in the country, it was created by a proclamation of Governor Frederick North, signed by William Boyd, Acting Secretary to Government at Galle on August 2, 1800.

According to the proclamation, it was deemed necessary to establish a new system because 'the present mode of survey and measurement of land has been found imperfect and ineffectual'. A Surveyor General was appointed to reside principally in Colombo and receive orders directly from the government.

Under him five Principal Surveyors were appointed and the land divided among them in the following manner. "One shall superintend the survey from the River of Chilaw to the Calanie Ganga, one from the Calanie Ganga to the River of Galle, one from the River of Galle to the North Easterly extremity of the Mahagampatto: to the Nothern extremity of the District of Mulletivoe, and the remaining one from the Northern extremity of the District of Mulletivoe to the River of Chilaw, and shall be thus distinguished, the Surveyor of Negombo, of Colombo, of Matara, of Trincomalee, of Jaffna-Patam."

Mr. Ranasinghe Silva, the current Surveyor General is the 41st in the line of Surveyors General. Mr. Silva explained that there was some system for the surveying of land during the Dutch period since there are maps of Colombo, Galle and the Western Province, showing cinnamon land dating back to the Dutch times. A map of the island prepared in 1789 by the Dutch had most of the features of the later maps of the island.

The Dutch also had a system of registration of lands which included a survey plan. The registrations were noted in volumes called 'tombos' and they specified the bounds of the lands as determined by the surveyors. The deed comprised the plan and the surveyor's sworn statement of the bounds.

The early history of the Survey Department is difficult to trace since many records particularly pertaining to the first fifty years, are not available. At that time the post of Surveyor General was often combined with that of Civil Engineer and Commissioner of Roads. It has been accepted that during the period of Governor Frederick North, Joseph Johnville was appointed as the first Surveyor General.

During the first fifty years, the department was mainly engaged in the survey of scattered allotments of land for sale to private parties. The first title plan was issued by the new department on August 20, 1800 surveyed by C. Schneider. During this period about 50,000 title plans had been issued. In 1840, the Survey Department produced a map of the whole island on the scale of four miles to an inch. A more detailed map of the Kandy area on the one mile to an inch scale was produced at this time for the war effort in the Kandyan region. This scale was later expanded to the whole country.

"To produce the one inch scale map, the surveyors went to each and every corner of the jungles on foot," said Mr. P.A. Ariyaratne, Additional Surveyor General. "It took them many years. They had to camp out in the jungle. During this work, there were many deaths caused by snake bites and wild animals. The surveyors also discovered several ancient ruins in the jungles."

"We have a cadre of 1000 surveyors and 4500 assistants deployed in all 25 districts," said Surveyor General Silva. They also have other technical cadres such as draughtsmen, mapping and air survey technicians and printing technicians. " We have a total of about 7000 employed in the department. The main function of the department is to provide the survey needs of the state sector. All land surveys for the government are carried out by the department all over the country. Air surveys are taken and mapping activities are carried out mainly within this building," he explained.

" Today, satellites can be used for observing surveying details. Global Positioning Systems (GBS) technology, which is very accurate is used for control surveys. Images from earth observation satellites are used for mapping purposes. Until 1910, most surveyors were British," Mr. Ariyaratne said. "Upto 1954, the Surveyors General were British, the last being G.B. King. The first Sri Lankan Surveyor General, appointed in 1954, was N.S. Perera, the brother of Dr. N.M. Perera."

According to Mr. Ariyaratne, a training course for surveyors was started at the Technical College, Maradana, with practical work at Padukka. In 1910, the training was taken over by the department. In 1924, the Institute of Surveying and Mapping was established at Diyatalawa. In 1967 with aid from UNDP buildings were improved and new equipment and instruments installed. A diploma was given to the trained surveyors. The training of air survey technicians, remote sensing technicians, and draughtsmen also commenced gradually. Up to 1972, grades above Assistant Superintendent of Surveyors were trained in London and Cambridge. Post-graduate training commenced in 1973 and in 1990 the Institute began to award degrees in survey and sciences. Six batches of graduates have passed out from the Institute to date. The University of Sabaragamuwa has also recently started a degree course for survey and sciences.

Ms. Shamalee Perera, an Assistant Superintendent of Surveyors briefly outlined the process involved in producing a map. The first step is the taking of aerial photographs. These films are processed and passed on to the photogrammetric section, where they model a three dimensional view, based on the two dimensional photograph. The data is collected in digital form. The digital file then goes to the printing section.

Ms. Perera said some manual map production is also continuing since the process is not fully automated yet. A Geographic Information System Unit was recently established to handle all digital data in the department. A centre for remote sensing has also been established, for making land use maps using aerial photos and satellite data. A series of ceremonies are being conducted to celebrate the Survey Department's bicentennial. A commemorative stamp is also being issued. In order to create awareness among schoolchildren, programmes have been conducted in all districts as well as a workshop for teachers of higher-level geography.

News 100 years ago

Anagarika's effort

Inspired by the efforts of Anagarika Dharmapala in reviving Buddhism in India, the 'Westminster Review' starts a series of articles by Major General D. M. Strong under the title 'Revival of Buddhism in India'.

The articles are reproduced in 'The Independent'. The opening paragraph states: That more than a mere local interest has been aroused by the recent itinerary in India of the Anagarika H. Dharmapala, the founder of the Mahabodhi Society,.

When the Society was formed in Colombo in 1891 its objects then declared were to make known to all nations the teaching of the Buddha, to conserve and maintain the holy shrines in India, and to re-establish a monastery in Buddha Gaya.

Since however the transfer of the Society's headquarters to Calcutta, its efforts have been more distinctly concentrated on the colossal design of restoring to the people of India that ancient faith which under the rule of King Asoka became the state religion of the whole continent of Hindustan some 250 years before Christ.

Sale of historic home

The beautiful property situated overlooking Campbell Park and country of 'Karlshrue' and ground was sold by public auction on Saturday, July 14 , the sale being conducted by Mr. R. G. Koelman representing Janson & Company of Colombo. Karlshrue, like Whist Bungalow (in Mutwal - the Colombo residence of Louis H. S. Pieris) and Elie House boasts of a history having been no other than the pleasure resort of the late Charles Ambroz Lorenz.

On his death the property passed on to Cecil Morgan from whom the government rented it as the residence of the Inspector General of Police.

It was later split up into 15 blocks and auctioned. It fetched Rs 91,550/-. The house and surrounding land of 3 acres, 3 roods & 31 perches fetched Rs 40,100 and was bought by L. Mendis who also bought three other blocks.

Wretched & primitive transport system

Claiming a scoop, 'The Independent' has this story on a possible new system of transport in the island.

A carefully thought out and elaborate scheme is in course of perfection having for its avowed object - replacing the present wretched and primitive system of transport with a more satisfactory up-to-date system.

The proposal is to be laid before the government. A syndicate has been formed under the title 'Ceylon Rapid Transport Company' to take over carrying of the mails along selected routes. Cars are to be specially constructed to carry eight first class passengers and ten second class as well as mails and luggage at the back. They will run at a speed of about eight miles an hour.

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