Sri Lanka is an island with an elevated mountain range in the middle. Around it particularly to the north-east and south are thriving irrigation systems, mainly for rice. Water reservoirs and dams and sluices abound, some from the ancient times, about 4th century, and some modern systems. And the climate moves from wet to dry as you get away from the ranges. Uda-Walawa is one such reservoir, and the panoramic view from its bunds is amazing. If you look north you see the mountains, if you look south you see the lower level basins.
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As you drive further, you could actually begin to see the edge of land in the distance across the southern plains. And a feel of how rice cultivation took place. What you see below is the upper-basin
Also there is a preserved water sluice in an irrigation canal in the same area. You would note the cobra with the seven heads, used all over Sri Lanka at that time as a symbol of the guardian of water resources and structures.
And then you drive down to the basin into a more drier land with quite a bit of wild life as well. Modern irrigation systems have disrupted some of the pathways of the wild life, so you would see some designated areas for their road crossings.
