::: VISION 2025 :::

Value of Water and IWRM

Sri Lanka is one of the few countries in the world which has had a thriving and vibrant civilization for over two thousand years, dating from the 6th Century BC - a civilization that left behind ruins which are among the most amazing monuments of the ancient world. What is remarkable about this civilization is that it was developed in the drier part of the country, based on a highly intricate system of irrigation. It required water storage, transfer of water over long distances, complex systems of water distribution and management for agriculture, drinking and sanitation and for landscape gardening. Hence the concept of Integrated Water Resources Management appears to have been ingrained in our ancient society. The hydraulic society that was sustained over many centuries treated water with great respect and value and its use was regulated by edicts issued by the kings, as well as by customary rights and obligations determined by the community. The people observed these willingly as they became a part of their culture.

After the decline of this irrigation-based civilization, much of the dry-zone became depopulated except for isolated villages that survived under small village tanks,. Most of the people migrated to the wet zone of the island where the rainfall regime ensured water for the people. They established an economy and society adapted to an environment with plentiful water.

Following the establishment of British rule, the situation changed drastically. The forests in the wet zone were cleared to make way for coffee, tea, rubber and coconut plantations. The irrigated land settlement schemes as well as the increasing population in all areas led to further clearing of forests until now only 21% (?) of the land is under forest cover; in some areas in the critical hill country it is less than 9% (?). Even though the clearing might not have affected rainfall, it has affected run-off, groundwater and river flow regimes.

Moreover, since independence (1948) irrigated land settlement in the dry zone has increased greatly; clearing of forests for land settlement and chena cultivation has also depleted groundwater resources by increasing runoff and evaporation. In this period the population has almost trebled to 19 million 80% of it in the wet zone with the region in and around Colombo becoming the main concentration of urban population.