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. 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
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.
Area Measurements of area used in ancient Sri Lanka was a system derived from
paddy agriculture. '' ), which was a base unit used to measure small weights.
Weight One
candy, or one
bahar, was equal to 226.8 kg, 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. 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: • capacity of Kuruni varies from area to area One ammonam was equal to 203.4 L. == See also ==