::: VISION 2025 :::

Fact and Fantasy

Nearly two-thirds of the country gets less than 1,500 mm of rainfall a year and almost all of it comes during the short north east monsoon season from October to January.

Of this, 51.1% escapes to sea in spite of the large amount of water stored in large and small reservoirs.

Storage shortages are experienced already and the scope to increase storage for future growth in demand is very limited and prohibitively expensive

A heavy public investment has been made to irrigate nearly 560,000 hectares of land in the dry zone. Irrigated agriculture however accounts for only 20% (about 18%) (?) of the total agricultural production. Concentration on water intensive paddy cultivation on these lands and the wasteful use of available water without any payment, several irrigated areas face water stress, especially during the dry season. The irrigation intensity is only 130% as against a desirable 160-200%.

The agreed rules for sharing of water in scarce situations are limited to the irrigation sector (Bethma), there is already competition for a limited supply of water by farmers and urban residents.

The situation in the wet zone where 78.8% of the rainfall run-off escapes to sea is much more favorable. Because rainfall is available throughout the year storage is needed only for hydro-power generation and urban use

The excessive concentration of urbanization and industrialization in and around Colombo has led to a severe drain on the Kelani Ganga and groundwater in the region as well as led to water pollution.

While Sri Lanka's population will stabilize at 23 million by 2025, urban population will increase from 30% to 60%, creating tremendous pressures on water supply and sanitation and sewage disposal in urban areas. This will be a major challenge to urban planners.

Only 32% of the national population is served by pipe borne water today, only 1/3 of all the piped water supply schemes in the country have the capacity for providing a 24-hour water supply.

Increasingly groundwater is tapped for agriculture and over exploitation is causing saline intrusion. These are only the warning signals of more critical issues related to water that would emerge unless we take steps to achieve a sustainable water scenario by 2025.

Due to the enhancement of global warming (1.8-2.2 0C) Sri Lanka will experience a reduction in rainfall by 3 to 18 % over the coming decades. The changes in sea level rise in Sri Lanka are estimated from 15cm to 95cm, with a best estimate of 50 cm by the turn of this century. The biophysical impacts of these phenomena will leave direct impact on water resources leading to their decline in general.

Today several agencies, government and private, exploit water resources and each agency has its own agenda. This has led to wasteful use of water, human and financial resources and even to conflicts between even legitimate competitive users. This fragmented approach will give way to the holistic approach of Integrated Water Resources Management at the national, regional and river basin levels to achieve the sustainable vision for water.

Major Policy decisions and strategies to manage the available water resources in a n integrated and sustainable manner are an urgent necessity. Given the fragmented approaches in the past, a long term strategy with a vision framework has to be put in place to provide time to make adjustments.