Withstanding extreme climate: Irrigation network to be strengthened
New projects and modifications to existing structures planned to match level of rainfall
Talks underway with Mahaweli Authority and other stakeholder agencies, especially concerning Trinco/Badulla resilience
The Land and Irrigation Ministry stated the Government is working on short-, medium-, and long-term measures to strengthen the country’s irrigation network so that it can better withstand extreme weather events and future climate challenges.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, Deputy subject Minister, Aravinda Senarath noted that officials had no prior experience or data to anticipate the scale of rainfall brought by Cyclone Ditwah, with several areas receiving more than 500 millimetres (mm) within a short period. “It will take some time to adjust the irrigation system to match this level of rainfall, but we hope to take the necessary steps in the short term. Plans include launching new irrigation projects and modifying existing structures so that they can endure similar conditions in the future.”
He said that it was the country’s reservoirs and irrigation network that prevented much greater damage during the natural disasters caused by Cyclone Ditwah. “If the irrigation system and these reservoirs were not there, the water would have flowed through rivers, causing far more destruction. Our system helped to control the disaster to some extent,” he said. However, he added that Districts such as Trincomalee and Badulla faced rainfall levels that they could no longer manage with the current infrastructure. “Discussions are taking place with the Mahaweli Authority and other agencies to strengthen the network and improve its resilience.”
Sri Lanka’s irrigation system is among the oldest in Asia, with ancient kings constructing vast reservoirs such as Minneriya, the Kala Wewa, and the Parakrama Samudraya. These interconnected tanks created one of the world’s earliest hydraulic civilizations, storing and distributing water during dry periods and supporting agriculture. Many of these ancient structures remain in operation, continuing to protect communities and farmland.
Modern expansions, including the Mahaweli Development Program, further strengthened the system by diverting rivers, creating new reservoirs, and opening up more agricultural land. Projects such as Victoria, Kotmale, and Randenigala have played a major role in flood control, hydropower generation, and irrigation across the dry zone. Cyclone Ditwah, however, placed unprecedented pressure on both historical and modern structures. Water levels rose rapidly in several reservoirs, and spillways had to be opened to prevent structural risk.
